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. 2016 Aug:23:115-23.
doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2016.07.002. Epub 2016 Jul 15.

Age differences in fatigue, decrements in energy, and sleep disturbance in oncology patients receiving chemotherapy

Lindsey E Bischel  1 , Christine Ritchie  2 , Kord M Kober  1 , Steven M Paul  1 , Bruce A Cooper  1 , Lee-May Chen  2 , Jon D Levine  2 , Marilyn Hammer  3 , Fay Wright  3 , Christine Miaskowski  4
Affiliations

Age differences in fatigue, decrements in energy, and sleep disturbance in oncology patients receiving chemotherapy

Lindsey E Bischel et al. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2016 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: The number of older adults with cancer is increasing. Given the limited amount of research and the inconsistent findings regarding age differences in common physical symptoms associated with cancer and its treatments, the purposes of this study, in a sample of oncology outpatients receiving chemotherapy (CTX), were to evaluate for age differences in demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as in occurrence rates of and severity ratings for fatigue, decrements in energy, and sleep disturbance. In addition, using regression analysis techniques, within and across age groups, demographic and clinical characteristics associated with the severity of each symptom were evaluated.

Methods: Patients (n = 1343) were dichotomized into younger (<65 years) and older (≥65 years) age groups. Patients completed self-report questionnaires prior to their next dose of CTX.

Results: Overall, our findings suggest that compared to younger patients, older adults experience a lower or similar level of fatigue, decrements in energy, and sleep disturbance. However, it should be noted that both age groups experienced high occurrence rates and moderate to severe levels of all three symptoms.

Conclusions: Clinicians need to assess all oncology patients receiving CTX for these three symptoms. Future research needs to determine the biopsychosocial reasons that underlie these age-related differences in fatigue, decrements in energy, and sleep disturbance.

Keywords: Age differences; Cancer; Chemotherapy; Diurnal variations; Elderly; Energy; Fatigue; Occurrence; Older adults; Severity; Sleep disturbance.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Age differences in the percentages of patients who reported morning fatigue (A), evening fatigue (B), morning energy (C), and evening energy (D) scores that were above the clinically meaning cutoff score for each symptom.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Age differences in the percentages of patients who reported General Sleep Disturbance Scale (GSDS) total (A) and subscale (B) scores that were above the clinically meaning cutoff score.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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