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Time course and predictors of persistent cancer-related fatigue in long-term breast cancer survivors: a prospective observational study

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Abstract

Purpose

The present study investigated whether the level of cancer-related fatigue (CRF) after finishing oncology treatment was related to higher levels of persistent CRF and its relationship with both functional and psychological disturbances. Second, to identify potential predictors of persistent CRF.

Methods

Eighty BC survivors were classified into non-fatigued (≤ 3.9) or fatigued (≥ 4), according to their Piper Fatigue Scale total score after finishing oncology treatment. The time course of fatigue and the impact on its domains, pain, mood state, perceived physical fitness, the level of physical activity, and quality of life were assessed at ≥ 5 years.

Results

Women classified as fatigued after finishing oncology treatment had not only a higher prevalence of persistent CRF (41.2%) at the reassessment, but also greater levels of pain (P = .006 to .048) and mood disturbances (P = .007 to .015), and lower levels of physical fitness condition (P = .002 to .039) and quality of life (P < .001 to < .05) over time. Regression analyses revealed that “sadness/depression,” “global health status,” “physical activity level,” and “type of treatment” were significant predictors of persistent CRF (r2 = .692).

Conclusion

Higher levels of CRF implied greater levels of persistent CRF and a lower functional and psychological profile over time. 69.2% of of persistent CRF was explained.

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Data availability

All authors certify that they have no affiliations or involvement with any organization or entity with financial or nonfinancial interests in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Code availability

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to all individuals who wanted to participate in this study.

Funding

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness [Plan Estatal de I + D + I 2013–2016]; Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria del Instituto de Salud Carlos III [PI14/01627]; Fondos Estructurales de la Unión Europea (FEDER). This study took place thanks to the additional funding from the University of Granada, Plan Propio de Investigación 2016. Excellence actions: Units of Excellence; Scientific Excellence Unit on Exercise and Health (UCEES).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, European University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

    Francisco Álvarez-Salvago

  2. Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain

    Francisco Álvarez-Salvago, José Daniel Jiménez-García, Antonio Martínez-Amat, Fidel Hita-Contreras & Agustín Aibar-Almazán

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  1. Francisco Álvarez-Salvago
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Francisco Álvarez Salvago, José Daniel Jimenez García, Agustín Aibar Almazán, Fidel Hita Contreras, and Antonio Martínez Amat. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Francisco Álvarez Salvago, Jose Daniel Jimenez García, and Agustín Aibar Almazán and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to José Daniel Jiménez-García.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethics approval

This study was performed in the line with the principles of The Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Biomedical Research Ethical Committee of Granada (CEIm) (1038-N-16 I.P).

Consent to participate

Participants were welcomed for assessments by a physiotherapist, who gave detailed information about the study. Once they signed written informed consent, the researcher carried out the first assessment.

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Álvarez-Salvago, F., Jiménez-García, J.D., Martínez-Amat, A. et al. Time course and predictors of persistent cancer-related fatigue in long-term breast cancer survivors: a prospective observational study. Support Care Cancer 31, 35 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-07516-2

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