Back to Search
Start Over
Prevalence, severity, and predictors of symptom burden among adolescents and young adults with cancer.
- Source :
-
Cancer Medicine . May2023, Vol. 12 Issue 10, p11773-11785. 13p. - Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- Background: Symptom burden in adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer is poorly characterized but impacts quality of life. Methods: All Ontario, Canada AYA aged 15-29 years at diagnosis between 2010 and 2018 were linked to population-based healthcare databases, including to Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-revised (ESAS) scores, an 11-point scale routinely obtained at the time of cancer-related outpatient visits and collected provincially. Multistate models estimated mean duration of symptom severity states [none (0) vs. mild (1 vs. 2 vs. 3) vs. moderate (4-6) vs. severe (7-10)], trajectories, and subsequent mortality risk. Variables associated with severe symptoms were also determined. Results: In total, 4296 AYA with =1 ESAS score within a year of diagnosis were included (median age 25 years). Prevalent moderate/severe symptoms included fatigue (59% of AYA) and anxiety (44%). Across symptom type, AYA reporting moderate symptoms were likelier to subsequently experience improvement versus worsening. Risk of death within 6 months increased with increasing symptom burden and was highest in AYA with severe dyspnea (9.0%), pain (8.0%), or drowsiness (7.5%). AYA in the poorest urban neighborhoods were more likely to experience severe symptoms than in the wealthiest areas, with twice the odds of reporting severe depression [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.95, 95th confidence interval (95% CI) 1.37-2.78], pain (OR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.39-2.70), and dyspnea (OR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.27-3.02). Conclusions: AYA with cancer experience substantial symptom burden. Risk of death increased with symptom severity. Interventions targeting cancer fatigue and anxiety, and targeting AYA in lower-income neighborhoods, are likely to improve quality of life in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20457634
- Volume :
- 12
- Issue :
- 10
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Cancer Medicine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 164794692
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.5837