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Neuropathic symptoms, physical and emotional well-being, and quality of life at the end of life

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Abstract

The purpose of this cross-sectional, descriptive study was to assess differences in neuropathic symptoms, physical and emotional well-being, and quality of life in cancer patients at the end of life compared to those without neuropathic symptoms. Neuropathic symptoms were defined as numbness and tingling in the hands and/or feet. A secondary analysis of data from two hospices in Central Florida was performed. Adults (n = 717) with a cancer diagnosis, an identified family caregiver, and who were receiving hospice services, were eligible. The prevalence of numbness/tingling in the hands or feet was 40% in this sample of hospice patients with cancer. Participants with neuropathic symptoms of numbness/tingling had a significantly higher prevalence of pain (76.7% vs. 67.0%; p = .006), difficulty with urination (29.4% vs. 20.3%; p = .007), shortness of breath (64.9% vs. 54.1%; p = .005), dizziness/lightheadedness (46.0% vs. 28.2%; p < .001), sweats (35.5% vs. 20.3%; p < .001), worrying (50.7% vs. 37.3%; p = .001), feeling irritable (38.5% vs. 28.7%; p = .008), feeling sad (48.2% vs. 37.8%; p = .008), and difficulty concentrating (46.2% vs. 32.5%; p < .001). They also reported significantly higher overall symptom intensity and symptom distress scores (p = < .001), higher pain severity (p = .001) and pain distress (p = .002), and decreased quality of life (p = .002) compared to those without numbness/tingling. Neuropathic symptoms are emotionally distressing at the end of life and associated with higher symptom burden and diminished quality of life.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mayo Clinic Florida, 4500 San Pablo Road S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA

    Cindy Tofthagen

  2. University of South Florida, College of Nursing, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC22, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA

    Constance Visovsky, Sara Dominic & Susan McMillan

Authors
  1. Cindy Tofthagen
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  2. Constance Visovsky
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  3. Sara Dominic
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  4. Susan McMillan
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Correspondence to Cindy Tofthagen.

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The project was approved by the administrators of the two involved hospices and by the University of South Florida Institutional Review.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Tofthagen, C., Visovsky, C., Dominic, S. et al. Neuropathic symptoms, physical and emotional well-being, and quality of life at the end of life. Support Care Cancer 27, 3357–3364 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4627-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4627-x

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