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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · South Asian J Cancer
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1808237
Original Article

Prevalence of Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Prospective Observational Study

Pradeep K. Reddy 
1   Department of General Medicine, SVS Medical College, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
,
Billakanti Rajkumar
1   Department of General Medicine, SVS Medical College, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
,
S.P. Shrivastava
2   Department of Medical Oncology, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
,
Paspula Soumya
3   Department of Pharmacy Practice, Smt Sarojini Ramulamma College of Pharmacy, Mahabubnagar, Telangana, India
,
Brungi Divya
4   Smt Sarojini Ramulamma College of Pharmacy, Mahabubnagar, Telangana, India
,
R. Anvesh
4   Smt Sarojini Ramulamma College of Pharmacy, Mahabubnagar, Telangana, India
,
Bayya Neha Bhavani
4   Smt Sarojini Ramulamma College of Pharmacy, Mahabubnagar, Telangana, India
,
Gouthami Gouthami
4   Smt Sarojini Ramulamma College of Pharmacy, Mahabubnagar, Telangana, India
,
Niharika K.
5   Department of Obstetrician and Gynecology, Continental Hospitals, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
,
Shweta Bhatnagar
6   Department of Radiology, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
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Abstract

Background

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) reduces quality of life and the activity level of patients with cancer. Data regarding CRF from Indian population are limited. The present study was aimed to understand the prevalence of CRF in Indian patients and its impact on quality of life.

Methodology

This prospective observational study was conducted at SVS Medical College, Telangana, India, for a duration of 6 months. The study included 100 adult patients with cancer receiving treatment at the institute and willing to consent for the study. The patients with brain metastases were excluded as it might impact their ability to complete study procedures. Patients' demographics, disease and treatment details, etc. were collected. Patients were interviewed to assess the level of fatigue using the EORTC QLQ-C30 (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30) scale and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) fatigue intensity scale. The analysis of data was performed using chi-square and analysis of variance tests.

Result

In our study of 100 Indian patients (49 males and 51 females), mean age was 43.78 years. Breast cancer and gastric cancer were the most common diagnosis, with 22 patients each. Treatment protocols included radiotherapy in 63 patients and chemotherapy in 37 patients. As per the EORTC QLQ-C30 scale, proportion of patients with normal, mild, moderate, and severe level of fatigue were 9, 15, 44, and 32%, respectively. As per the NCCN scale, proportion of patients with no or mild, moderate, and severe fatigue were 9, 47, and 44%, respectively.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that among the Indian patients with CRF, higher proportion of patients have moderate or severe level of fatigue. Appropriate assessment and management of CRF should be considered in the patients for overall management.

Keywords

cancer-related fatigue - chemotherapy - physical activity - pharmacological - radiotherapy - integrative therapies

Ethical Statement

The ethical committee clearance was obtained from the Institutional Ethical Committee of SVS Medical College Hospital before initiating the study (IEC/DHR-03/(03/02)/2023/0542).




Publication History

Received: 20 October 2024

Accepted: 25 March 2025

Article published online:
02 May 2025

© 2025. MedIntel Services Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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