Prevalence and risk factors for fatigue among breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors Journal Article


Authors: Mao, H.; Bao, T.; Shen, X.; Li, Q.; Seluzicki, C.; Im, E. O.; Mao, J. J.
Article Title: Prevalence and risk factors for fatigue among breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors
Abstract: Purpose: Fatigue is the most common and distressing symptom experienced by cancer survivors. This study sought to determine the prevalence and risk factors for fatigue among breast cancer (BC) survivors receiving aromatase inhibitors (AIs). Material and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey study among postmenopausal women with stage 0 to III BC receiving adjuvant AI therapy at the outpatient breast oncology clinic of a large university hospital. Participants with a score ≥4 on the ‘worst fatigue’ item of the Brief Fatigue Inventory were classified as having moderate or severe fatigue. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate risk factors. Results: Among 1103 participants, 616 (55.8%) had moderate or severe fatigue. In the multivariate logistic regression model, women younger than 55 years were significantly more likely to report moderate to severe fatigue than women older than 65 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07–2.35; p = 0.023). Compared to women with high school or less education, women with college or more education were significantly more likely to report moderate to severe fatigue (AOR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.02–1.91; p = 0.037). Increasing body mass index (BMI) was significantly associated with increased risk of experiencing moderate to severe fatigue (overweight: AOR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.01–1.84, p = 0.042; obesity: AOR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.53–2.81, p < 0.001). Fatigue was significantly correlated with pain severity (r = 0.48, p < 0.001) and insomnia (r = 0.62, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Moderate to severe fatigue complaints exceed 50% among AI users. Fatigue is highly related to younger age, higher education level, higher BMI, pain severity and insomnia. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd
Keywords: fatigue; breast cancer; aromatase inhibitor
Journal Title: European Journal of Cancer
Volume: 101
ISSN: 0959-8049
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.  
Date Published: 2018-09-01
Start Page: 47
End Page: 54
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2018.06.009
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 30014974
PMCID: PMC6148367
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 August 2018 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Ting   Bao
    76 Bao
  2. Jun J Mao
    243 Mao
  3. Qing Susan Li
    82 Li
  4. Huijuan Mao
    1 Mao