Quality of Life of Chilean Breast Cancer Survivors: Multicentric Study / Qualidade de Vida de Sobreviventes de Câncer de Mama do Chile: Estudo Multicêntrico / Calidad de Vida de Sobrevivientes de Cáncer de Mama de Chile: Estudio Multicentrico

Introduction: As breast cancer survivorship rates increase, so does the necessity to improve survivors' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Objective: To analyze HRQoL among Chilean breast cancer survivors, in general and considering geographic location. In addition, to correlate HRQoL with age, education level and body mass index (BMI). Method: Cross-sectional observational study which included 125 female breast cancer survivors from three public hospitals in three Chilean Macroregions: Central, North Central, and South. The EORTC Questionnaires, QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23, and sociodemographic and clinical records were applied. Results: The mean age was 56.1 (±11.9) years with a HRQoL summary score of 67.6 (21.9). HRQoL was reduced mainly in emotional functioning, pain, and insomnia. Fatigue, dyspnea, appetite loss, constipation, financial difficulties, breast and arm symptoms were also reported. The women from the South Macroregion Hospital presented the worst HRQoL scores for most of the domains [general health, functioning (physical, emotional, cognitive and social), fatigue, and nausea], p<0.001. The summary score of HRQoL was correlated to age (Spearman ́s rho=0.202, p=0.033), BMI (rho=-0.341, p<0.001), and education level (rho=0.310, p=0.001). Conclusion: Women from three Macroregions showed differences in HRQoL. The latter correlated to age, BMI, and education level. Considering the high presence of symptoms, it is necessary to improve survivorship care plans, providing access to rehabilitation in the continuum of care.

Introdução: À medida que as taxas de sobrevivência do câncer de mama aumentam, também aumenta a necessidade de melhorar a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QVRS) dos sobreviventes. Objetivo: Analisar a QVRS em geral e considerando a localização geográfica entre sobreviventes de câncer de mama chilenas. Além disso, correlacionar a QVRS com idade, nível educacional e índice de massa corporal (IMC). Método: Estudo observacional transversal que incluiu 125 mulheres sobreviventes de câncer de mama de três hospitais públicos em três Macrorregiões chilenas: Central, Norte-Central e Sul. Foram utilizados os Questionários EORTC QLQ-C30 e QLQ-BR23 e os registros sociodemográficos e clínicos. Resultado: A média de idade foi de 56,1 (±11,9) anos com escore resumido de QVRS de 67,6 (21,9). A QVRS estava reduzida principalmente no funcionamento emocional, dor e insônia. Fadiga, dispneia, perda de apetite, constipação, dificuldades financeiras, sintomas de braço e mama também foram mencionados. As mulheres do hospital da Macrorregião Sul apresentaram os piores escores de QVRS para a maioria dos domínios [saúde geral, funcionamento (físico, emocional, cognitivo e social), fadiga e náusea], p<0,001. A pontuação geral de QVRS esteve correlacionada com idade (rho de Spearman=0,202, p=0,033), IMC (rho=-0,341, p<0,001) e nível educacional (rho=0,310, p=0,001). Conclusão: As mulheres das três Macrorregiões apresentaram diferenças na QVRS.Esta última se correlacionou com idade, IMC e nível educacional. Considerando a alta presença de sintomas, há necessidade de aprimoramento dos planos de atenção à sobrevivência, possibilitando acesso à reabilitação no contínuo do cuidado

Introducción: A medida que aumentan las tasas de supervivencia al cáncer de mama, también aumenta la necesidad de mejorar la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CdV) de las sobrevivientes. Objetivo: Analizar la CdV entre supervivientes chilenas de cáncer de mama, en general y considerando ubicación geográfica. Además, correlacionar CdV con edad, nivel educacional e índice de masa corporal (IMC). Método: Estudio observacional transversal que incluyó a 125 mujeres sobrevivientes de cáncer de mama de tres Hospitales públicos de tres Macrorregiones de Chile: Centro, Centro Norte y Sur. Se utilizaron los Cuestionarios EORTC QLQ-C30 y QLQ-BR23, historias sociodemográficas y clínicas. Resultados: La edad media fue de 56,1 (±11,9) años con una puntuación resumida de CdV de 67,6 (21,9). La CdV estuvo disminuida principalmente en funcionamiento emocional, dolor e insomnio. Fatiga, disnea, pérdida de apetito, estreñimiento, dificultades financieras, síntomas de brazo y mama también fueron reportados. Las mujeres del hospital de la Macrorregión Sur presentaron las peores puntuaciones de calidad de vida en la mayoría de los dominios [salud general, funcionamiento (físico, emocional, cognitivo y social), fatiga y nausea], p<0,001. El puntaje de CdV estuvo correlacionado con edad (rho de Spearman =0,202, p=0,033), IMC (rho=-0,341, p<0,001) y nivel educacional (rho=0,310, p=0,001). Conclusión: Las mujeres pertenecientes a tres regiones presentaron diferencias en la CdV.Esta última se correlacionó con edad, IMC y nivel educacional. Considerando la elevada presencia de síntomas, es necesario mejorar los planes de atención a las sobrevivientes, posibilitando acceso a rehabilitación en el continuo de los cuidados.

Spanish translation, face validity, and reliability of the ICIQ-B questionnaire with colorectal cancer patients

Purpose: To describe the English-to-Spanish translation process and preliminary psychometric analysis (face validity, cultural adaptation, and test-retest reliability) of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Bowels Module (ICIQB) among Chilean colorectal cancer patients. Materials and Methods: The face validity was studied with 10 colorectal cancer patients, and the test-retest reliability, with 15 patients, 1 month before and 6 months after cancer surgery. Results: Two rounds of translation/back translation resulted in a Spanish version. The English expression open your bowels was translated as defecar, as it is easily understandable in Spanish. The patients reported that the instrument was easy to answer, with clear instructions, and that it was adequate to appraise their health condition. The testretest reliability was good (Spearman rho [ρ] ≥ 0.842); only item 15a, the Bristol Stool Scale, obtained a moderate correlation (ρ=0.639). The patients reported a variety of symptoms, including increased bowel movements, nocturnal bowel movements, fecal urgency, and incontinence. Conclusions: The first Spanish version of the ICIQ-B was culturally adapted for Chilean colorectal cancer patients, and showed good test-retest reliability. It might be a reference for other Spanish-speaking countries and for patients with other conditions. The ICIQ-B is a robust comprehensive questionnaire for bowel function. (AU)

Functional outcomes and oncological fatigue among older cancer patients: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Aim: To characterize functional outcomes and oncological fatigue in older cancer patients, and verify the relation of these outcomes with age, number of hospitalizations, and falls within 12-months. Methods: Cross-sectional study involving 116 older adults with cancer undergoing treatment in a hospital in Santiago de Chile. Participants were assessed for independence on the activity of daily living (Barthel index), functional mobility with "timed up and go" (TUG) test, handgrip strength with a Baseline® Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer, and fatigue with Brief Fatigue Inventory. Information about the number of falls and hospitalizations from the previous 12-months was also collected. Results: 21.6% had experienced at least one fall during the previous 12-months, and 52% had been hospitalized over the same period. Handgrip strength was below the cut-off thresholds for older adults and 78.4% were classified with the risk of falls according to the TUG test. Forty-nine percent of participants experienced moderate fatigue, and 58% were dependent to perform activities of daily living. There was a correlation of TUG results with age (r = 0.204; p = 0.028). Conclusions: Older adults with cancer in our study experienced moderate fatigue, a high dependence to perform activities of daily living, especially those associated with mobility, dressing, and bladder or bowel function. Older adults with cancer are more likely to develop functional decline which leads to increased dependency or death. The data suggests they present functional impairment. Physical activity interventions would benefit this population.

Incidência e risco de quedas em pacientes tratados por neoplasias hematológicas na Unidade de Hematologia Intensiva / Incidence and risk of falls in patients treated for hematologic malignancies in the Intensive Hematology Unit / Incidencia y riesgo de caídas en pacientes tratados por neoplasias hematológicas en Unidad Hematología Intensiva

Objetivo: determinar a incidência e a taxa de risco de quedas em pacientes adultos tratados por neoplasias hematológicas na Unidade de Hematologia Intensiva de um hospital de referência. Método: corresponde a um estudo observacional retrospectivo. Foram avaliados 101 pacientes. A ocorrência de quedas foi obtida a partir do registro da unidade e as variáveis preditivas do modelo Hendrich II foram coletadas: sexo, presença de tontura ou vertigem, confusão mental, problemas de eliminação, depressão, uso de benzodiazepínicos, uso de anticonvulsivantes e o teste Get up and Go. Resultados: dois eventos de quedas foram relatados em 101 pacientes (incidência de 1,98% em um período de 1,5 ano). Usando o ponto de corte cinco do Modelo Hendrich II, identificou-se que 30 pacientes (29,7%) apresentaram risco de queda no primeiro dia de hospitalização, 41 (40,6%) ao meio e 38 (37,6%) no momento da alta hospitalar. Conclusões: pacientes tratados por neoplasias hematológicas apresentaram baixa incidência e alto risco de quedas durante a hospitalização.

Objective: to determine the incidence and rate of risk of falls in adult patients treated for hematologic malignancies in the Intensive Hematology Unit of a reference hospital. Method: this is a retrospective observational study. A total of 101 patients were evaluated. The occurrence of falls was obtained from records of the unit and the predictive variables of the Hendrich II model were collected, namely: sex, presence of dizziness or vertigo, mental confusion, elimination problems, depression, use of benzodiazepines, use of anticonvulsants, and the Get up and Go test. Results: two fall events were reported in 101 patients (incidence of 1.98% over a 1.5-year period). Based on the cut-off point 5 of the Hendrich II Model, 30 patients (29.7%) were at risk of fall at the moment of hospital admission, 41 (40.6%) in the middle of the hospitalization period, and 38 (37.6%) at the moment of hospital discharge. Conclusions: patients treated for hematological malignancies presented low incidence and high risk of falls during hospitalization.

Objetivo: determinar la incidencia y la tasa de riesgo de caídas en pacientes adultos tratados por neoplasias hematológicas en la Unidad de Hematología Intensiva de un hospital de referencia. Método: corresponde a un estudio observacional retrospectivo. Se evaluaron 101 pacientes. La ocurrencia de caídas se obtuvo del registro de la unidad y las variables predictivas del modelo Hendrich II fueron recopiladas: sexo, presencia de mareos o vértigo, confusión mental, problemas de eliminación, depresión, uso de benzodiacepina, uso de anticonvulsionantes y la prueba Get up and Go. Resultados: dos eventos de caídas fueron reportados en 101 pacientes (incidencia de 1,98% en un período de 1,5 años). Utilizando el punto de corte 5 del Modelo Hendrich II, fue identificado que 30 pacientes (29,7%) tenían riesgo de caída al ingreso hospitalario, 41 (40,6%) en la mitad y 38 (37,6%) al egreso hospitalario. Conclusiones: los pacientes tratados por neoplasias hematológicas presentaron una incidencia baja y un alto riesgo de caídas durante la hospitalización.

Propiedades psicométricas del inventario breve de fatiga en personas tratadas por neoplasias hematológicas en Chile / Assessment of a brief fatigue inventory in patients with hematologic malignancies

Background: Fatigue is one of the most common and distressing symptoms experienced by cancer patients. Aim: To validate the Brief Fatigue Inventory in people treated for hematological neoplasms. Material and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, the Brief Fatigue Inventory was answered by 122 patients aged 40 ± 14 years (50% women) treated for hematological neoplasms at an intensive hematological unit of a public hospital between July 2010 and July 2013. Socio-demographic and clinical parameters were obtained from their clinical records. Results: Fatigue was present in nearly all patients (99.2%) in minor (50%), moderate (36.9%) or severe (12.3%) levels. The average fatigue score was 4.5 ± 1.9). The Brief Fatigue Inventory had a good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.973) and proved to be one-dimensional (84.3% of the explained variance). Women reported that fatigue interfered more with enjoy­ment of life than men (p = 0.036). Conclusions: The Brief Fatigue Inventory is a reliable instrument that can be used in clinical practice. It allows a quick assessment of the level of fatigue. People treated for hematologic cancer have a high prevalence of fatigue.