The prevalence, distribution and impact of peripheral neuropathy among Danish patients with cancer – a population-based cross-sectional study
Sebastian Werngreen Nielsen, Lise Eckhoff, Christina Halgaard Bruvik Ruhlmann, Jørn Herrstedt, Susanne Oksbjerg Dalton
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prevalence of peripheral neuropathy (PN) has been studied in patients undergoing treatment with taxanes, platinums and vinca alkaloids. The prevalence is unknown in the general oncological cancer population, characterized by advanced age, comorbidities and heterogeneous treatments. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was administered to all adult patients, attending outpatient services at three Danish departments of oncology. The survey contained the EORTC-CIPN20, the EORTC-QLQ-C30, the GAD7 and PHQ9 questionnaires. A high PN symptom score was defined as a summary score ≥30 points on the CIPN20. P-values were adjusted for multiple testing. RESULTS: < .001). CONCLUSION: Symptoms of PN are experienced widely across cancer groups in the oncology setting. PN symptoms were associated with clinically relevant worse health-related quality of life and with patient-related factors as living alone, various comorbidities, polypharmacy, and cannabis use.