Influencing factors in patients with cervical cancer during chemoradiotherapy

Objective  To analyze the influencing factors of symptom clusters during chemoradiotherapy in patients with cervical cancer.

Methods  A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 776 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer during chemoradiotherapy. The M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory(MDASI-D)was used to assess common symptoms and their severity in cancer patients. Exploratory factor analysis was employed to extract symptom clusters. Univariate and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to screen for influencing factors of the major symptom clusters.

Results  Among 776 cervical cancer patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy, the five most prevalentsymptoms were fatigue, nausea, dry mouth, disturbed sleep and vomiting. Through exploratory factor analysis, a total of four symptom clusters, namely the digestive tract symptom cluster, the somatic symptom cluster, the side effect symptom cluster and the emotional symptom cluster were extracted. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score were influencing factors for gastrointestinal symptom cluster (P < 0.05); age, educational level, disease stage and ECOG performance status were influencing factors for physical symptom cluster (P < 0.05); age, educational level, monthly household income per capita, ECOG performance status and disease stage were influencing factors for the emotional symptom cluster (P < 0.05); the ECOG performance status, disease stage and comorbid chronic diseases were influencing factors for the side effect symptom cluster (P < 0.05).

Conclusion  Patients with cervical cancer frequently experience gastrointestinal, emotional, physical and side effect symptom clusters during chemoradiotherapy.