Factors predicting chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy

Abstract

This was correlational predictive study which aimed to examine the influencing of body mass index, anemia, age, physical activity, and dosage of neurotoxic chemotherapy on CIPN in patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy (CTX). Unpleasant Symptom by Lenz and colleague (1997) was used as a conceptual framework for this study. Independent variables were BMI, anemia, age, physical activity before receiving neurotoxic CTX, and dosage of neurotoxic CTX. One hundred and twenty (n =120) Thai breast cancer patients in Bangkok were recruited by using the convenience sampling method at Chemotherapy and Blood Transfusion outpatient unit at a university hospital. Research instruments (Thai version) included personal information form, BMI, Physical activity questionnaire, CIPN 20 questionnaire. Haemoglobin was obtained from the laboratory recording which was determined using routine automated analyzers at the department of hematology. The dosage of neurotoxic CTX obtained from patients record form. Data were analysed by using descriptive statistics, Spearman's rho correlational analysis, and logistic regression analysis. The results reported that the overall participants had BMI in normal 55% (18.5-24.9 kg/m2) (M = 24.51, S.D. =4.68), with anemia (Hb<12mg/dl) 52.5% (M = 11.77, S.D.= 1.31), age range from 20-77 years old (M = 51.97, S.D.=11.00), physical activity range from 33.80-387.30 MET hour/week (M =138.39, S.D. = 62.31), and the range of dosage of neuropathy CTX from 90-415mg/m2 (M = 208.23, S.D. = 82), the results from logistic regression analysis indicated that physical activity (OR = 0.99, 95%CI = 0.98- 1.00, p= 0.04) and dosage of neurotoxic CTX (OR = 1.01, 95%CI = 1.00- 1.02, p= 0.00) were the significant predictors of CIPN. The findings recommend that health care providers in clinical settings should encourage the suitable physical activity for breast cancer patients especially before receiving neurotoxic CTX and monitoring the breast cancer patients who receiving high dose of neurotoxic CTX in order to prevent and reduce CIPN.