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Efficacy of darbepoetin alfa in alleviating fatigue and the effect of fatigue on quality of life in anemic patients with lymphoproliferative malignancies.

Abstract
Anemia-related fatigue in cancer patients reduces health-related quality of life (HRQOL). These analyses evaluate the effect of hemoglobin level on fatigue and examine the relationship between improved fatigue and HRQOL. Data were collected during a multicenter, randomized trial involving 344 anemic patients with lymphoproliferative malignancies receiving chemotherapy and darbepoetin alfa or placebo. At baseline, interim study visits, and end of treatment, patients completed an HRQOL questionnaire. Improved hemoglobin levels were significantly associated (P < 0.001) with improved fatigue. Mean change in the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) Fatigue score was 5.9 points greater when hemoglobin improved > 2 g/dl than when it declined. Patients experiencing a clinically meaningful improvement in fatigue reported significantly (P < 0.001) greater improvements in all other scales, except the FACT Social subscale. Managing anemia-related fatigue appears to have a positive impact on HRQOL, enhancing cancer patients' activity levels, mood, and perceived overall health.
AuthorsTimothy J Littlewood, Joel D Kallich, Jesus San Miguel, Lisa Hendricks, Michael Hedenus
JournalJournal of pain and symptom management (J Pain Symptom Manage) Vol. 31 Issue 4 Pg. 317-25 (Apr 2006) ISSN: 0885-3924 [Print] United States
PMID16632079 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • Hemoglobins
  • Erythropoietin
  • Darbepoetin alfa
Topics
  • Aged
  • Anemia (blood, complications)
  • Darbepoetin alfa
  • Erythropoietin (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
  • Fatigue (blood, drug therapy, etiology)
  • Female
  • Health Status
  • Hemoglobins (metabolism)
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Lymphoid (blood, complications)
  • Lymphoma (blood, complications)
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Quality of Life
  • Treatment Outcome

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