Effects of Dexamethasone and Placebo on Symptom Clusters in Advanced Cancer Patients: A Preliminary Report.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Advanced cancer patients frequently experience debilitating symptoms that occur in clusters, but few pharmacological studies have targeted symptom clusters. Our objective was to examine the effects of dexamethasone on symptom clusters in patients with advanced cancer.

Methods

We reviewed the data from a previous randomized clinical trial to determine the effects of dexamethasone on cancer symptoms. Symptom clusters were identified according to baseline symptoms by using principal component analysis. Correlations and change in the severity of symptom clusters were analyzed after study treatment.

Results

A total of 114 participants were included in this study. Three clusters were identified: fatigue/anorexia-cachexia/depression (FAD), sleep/anxiety/drowsiness

SUBMITTER: Yennurajalingam S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4786346 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature