Relationships between fatigue differential experience and anxiety, depression, and serum hormones among Chinese cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: Previous research has demonstrated that different cancer survivors with the same disease history or treatment may have different experiences of fatigue. This study aims to explore how demographic, oncological, sociological, psychological, and serum hormone levels interact to influence the distinct experiences of fatigue (CRF occurrence and fatigue degree). Methods: A cross-sectional study carried out at the oncology outpatient and ward department of Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences recruited 306 cancer patients between January 2021 to December 2021. Differences between groups were examined using chi-square and nonparametric testing, and binary and ordered logistic regression were used to explore the factors related with the prevalence of CRF and the aggravation of fatigue, respectively. Results: Among the 306 patients, 229 (74.8%) were diagnosed with CRF, including 94 (41.0%) with mild fatigue, 121 (52.8%) with moderate fatigue, and 14 (6.1%) with severe fatigue. Multivariate regression analysis showed that higher depression scores, aldosterone levels may increase the risk of CRF. Patients who are obese (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2) may help to reduce the risk of CRF. Other contributing factors for increased levels of fatigue (p < 0.05) include being female, having anxiety, depression and high aldosterone levels. Conclusion: CRF was a common symptom in cancer survivors. Gender, BMI, emotional state, aldosterone levels may be influential factors in the differential experience of fatigue. Implications for Cancer Survivors: Pay attention to these influencing factors may help to better identify patients susceptible to fatigue and provide long-term, targeted interventions.