Age-specific influences of emotional distress on performance status in cancer patients

作者：Kim Ji Hyun; Yoon Sujung; Won Wang Youn; Lee Chul; Lee Chang Uk; Song Kyo Young; Min Jung Ah; Lyoo In Kyoon^*; Kim Tae Suk

来源：Psycho-Oncology, 2013, 22(10): 2220-2226.

DOI：10.1002/pon.3276

• age
• cancer
• emotional distress
• oncology
• performance status

ObjectiveImproving and maintaining performance status is an important part of cancer treatment because it may predict patients%26apos; survival. Several cancer-related medical conditions have been known to influence the functional performance of cancer patients. We here examined whether emotional distress would also contribute to performance decline of cancer patients. %26lt;br%26gt;MethodsWith consecutive sampling, a total of 880 patients diagnosed as having cancer were recruited and evaluated on cancer-related variables, emotional distress, and performance status using the standardized instruments. %26lt;br%26gt;ResultsApproximately 8.9% of participants showed compromised performance rated 2 or more on the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status scale. Emotional distress was strongly associated with compromised performance after controlling for demographic and cancer-related external risk factors. The effects of emotional distress on performance decline were likely to be remarkably greater in the younger age group (%26lt;45years) than in old-aged cancer patients (65years). %26lt;br%26gt;ConclusionsOur results provide support for the independent effects of emotional distress on having a higher risk for performance decline in cancer patients. These effects seem to be age-dependent suggesting that special clinical attention to emotional distress may be required in younger patients with cancer.

• 出版日期2013-10