| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2020 | Volume
: 2
| Issue : 2 | Page : 85-91 |
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Symptom clusters in men with prostate cancer: A pilot assessment using salivary measures
Darpan I Patel
School of Nursing; Mays Cancer Center; Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Darpan I Patel
University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, M/C 7975, San Antonio, TX 78229
USA
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/ijptr.ijptr_23_20
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Context: Symptom clusters are an underutilized method for assessing cancer burden among men treated for prostate cancer (PCa).
Aim: The present study aimed to investigate associations between physiological and psychosocial symptoms that could better inform oncologists and family caregivers on how best to manage the care for men with PCa.
Settings and Design: Cross-sectional study design was implemented at a National Cancer Institute designated outpatient cancer center.
Subjects and Methods: Thirty men treated for PCa are included in this analysis (age: 70 ± 10; BMI: 29 ± 4.3). Participants completed the Brief Fatigue Inventory, the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F), and the Short Form (SF)-36. The patient demographic data were extracted from medical records and salivary cortisol and C-reactive protein were quantified.
Statistical Analysis Used: Correlations and hierarchical cluster analysis were performed. Statistical significance was considered as P < 0.05.
Results: Fatigue had significant negative correlations with multiple subscales of the SF-36. Increased BMI was negatively associated with SF-36 subscales of physical function (−0.621; P = 0.001), energy/fatigue (−0.449; P = 0.02), social function (−0.409; P = 0.04), pain (−0.422; P = 0.04), and FACIT-F subscales of functional well-being (−0.546; P = 0.006), general health (−0.494; P = 0.01), and total score (−0.458; P = 0.02). Cluster analysis revealed 2 categories of clusters, both including fatigue as a central symptom.
Conclusion: The results of this study conclude that fatigue is associated with multiple QoL indicators in men with PCa. The management of this symptom cluster has the potential to improve QoL.
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