Dataset Information

Do all patients with cancer experience fatigue? A longitudinal study of fatigue trajectories in women with breast cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Fatigue is a common and expected side effect of cancer treatment. However, the majority of studies to date have focused on average levels of fatigue, which may obscure important individual differences in the severity and course of fatigue over time. The current study was designed to identify distinct trajectories of fatigue from diagnosis into survivorship in a longitudinal study of women with early-stage breast cancer.

Methods

Women with stage 0 to stage IIIA breast cancer (270 women) were recruited before (neo)adjuvant therapy with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and/or endocrine therapy and completed assessments at baseline; posttreatment; and at 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months of follow-up. Growth mixture modeling was used to identify trajectories of fatigue, and differences among the trajectory groups with regard to demographic, medical, and psychosocial variables were examined.

Results

Five distinct trajectories of fatigue were identified: Stable Low (66%), with low levels of fatigue across assessments; Stable High (13%), with high fatigue across assessments; Decreasing (4%), with high fatigue at baseline that resolved over time; Increasing (9%), with low fatigue at baseline that increased over time; and Reactive (8%), with increased fatigue after treatment that resolved over time. Both psychological and treatment-related factors were found to be associated with fatigue trajectories, with psychological factors most strongly linked to high fatigue at the beginning of and over the course of treatment.

Conclusions

There is considerable variability in the experience of fatigue among women with early-stage breast cancer. Although the majority of women report relatively low fatigue, those with a history of depression and elevated psychological distress may be at risk of more severe and persistent fatigue.

SUBMITTER: Bower JE

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8562726 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Do all patients with cancer experience fatigue? A longitudinal study of fatigue trajectories in women with breast cancer.

Bower Julienne E JE Ganz Patricia A PA Irwin Michael R MR Cole Steve W SW Garet Deborah D Petersen Laura L Asher Arash A Hurvitz Sara A SA Crespi Catherine M CM

Cancer 20210219 8

<h4>Background</h4>Fatigue is a common and expected side effect of cancer treatment. However, the majority of studies to date have focused on average levels of fatigue, which may obscure important individual differences in the severity and course of fatigue over time. The current study was designed to identify distinct trajectories of fatigue from diagnosis into survivorship in a longitudinal study of women with early-stage breast cancer.<h4>Methods</h4>Women with stage 0 to stage IIIA breast ca ...[more]

PMID: 33606273

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Project description:OBJECTIVES:Fatigue is common and debilitating among dialysis patients. The aim of this study was to understand the longitudinal trajectory of fatigue and consider sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological factors that are related to variation in fatigue levels over time. DESIGN:A prospective study of fatigue with yearly assessments over 3 years among prevalent in-centre haemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS:Fatigue severity was measured using the Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire and fatigue-related functional impairment using the Work and Social Adjustment Scale. The trajectories of fatigue outcomes were examined using piecewise growth models, using length of time on dialysis as time. Sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological predictors of fatigue were assessed using linear growth models, using follow-up time. RESULTS:One hundred and seventy-four prevalent HD patients completed baseline measures, 118 at 12 months, 84 at 24 months, and 66 at 36 months. Fatigue severity scores decreased by 0.15 each year. Fatigue-related functional impairment increased by 1.17 each year. In adjusted linear growth models, non-white ethnicity was a significant predictor of lower initial fatigue severity (B = -2.95, 95% CI -5.51 to -0.40) and a greater reduction in fatigue severity of 1.60 each year (95% CI 0.35-2.36). A one-point increase in damage beliefs was associated with a 0.36 increase in fatigue-related functional impairment each year (95% CI -0.61 to -0.01). CONCLUSION:Damage beliefs predicted an increase in fatigue-related functional impairment over time. However, the data strongly suggested that fatigue outcomes vary by length of time on dialysis. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? At least 1 in 2 haemodialysis (HD) patients are clinically fatigued. Growing evidence is available on the important role of psychological factors in fatigue across chronic conditions. The contribution of psychological factors, beyond distress, to fatigue in HD has not been examined to date. What does this study add? Ethnicity played a role in the initial level of fatigue severity and over time. Damage beliefs predicted an increase in fatigue-related impairment over time. Data strongly suggested that fatigue outcomes vary by length of time on dialysis.

Project description:BackgroundAlthough multiple medications are often utilized to achieve optimal treatment outcomes, polypharmacy (use of five or more medications) among older population is associated with several detrimental effects. Trajectories of polypharmacy among older population over time has not been described.ObjectiveThis study estimated polypharmacy prevalence and clusters of individuals with similar patterns of change in polypharmacy among a cohort of older Australian women with and without dementia.MethodLongitudinal prospective cohort data from the oldest birth cohort (1921-1926) of the Australian Longitudinal Study on women's Health (ALSWH) were analysed. Survey data were linked with Pharmaceutical Benefit Schemes (PBS) data to obtain information about the type and number of prescription medications for each year 2003-2015. Group based trajectory modelling was used to identify distinct trajectory groups, based on the presence of polypharmacy for each year of observation. Trajectories were named based on distinctive and meaningful subgroups that followed approximately the same developmental course and probability assignment rule. Generalized estimating equation was used to identify factors associated with polypharmacy.ResultsA total of 10,372 women were eligible for the inclusion in the study. Prevalence of polypharmacy increased over time and reached as high as 71.19% and 71.29% in 2014 for women with and without dementia, respectively. Four distinct polypharmacy trajectories were identified: 'Consistent Polypharmacy' (55.88%);'Low Polypharmacy' (24.52%); 'Rapid Increasing Polypharmacy' (12.50%); and 'Moderate Polypharmacy' (7.12%). Dementia, Residential Aged Care (RAC), frailty and comorbid condition were the key drivers of polypharmacy in this cohort.ConclusionThe prevalence of polypharmacy among older women increased over time, with most women have a pattern of consistent polypharmacy or rapidly increasing polypharmacy. Appropriate, sustainable, and effective strategies for reducing medication use should be implemented for women as they age, and particularly for those with dementia and those in residential care.

Dataset Information

Do all patients with cancer experience fatigue? A longitudinal study of fatigue trajectories in women with breast cancer.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Do all patients with cancer experience fatigue? A longitudinal study of fatigue trajectories in women with breast cancer.

Similar Datasets

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