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Fatigue in older adults with acute myeloid leukemia: predictors and associations with quality of life and functional status

Leukemia volume 21, pages 845–848 (2007)Cite this article

Fatigue is the most common, distressing, and persistent symptom in patients with cancer,1 present in 60–96% of patients with various malignancies. Patients identified fatigue as being more important to treat than pain.1 Fatigue impacts significantly on quality of life (QOL), leads to restrictions in activities, and is particularly severe during chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Only one study has focused on fatigue in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).2 Among 37 patients ages 16–70, fatigue was the most common symptom and occurred in the majority of patients at baseline. At the completion of induction therapy, and up to 1 year later, fatigue scores improved by about 50%. Fatigue correlated positively with loss of appetite and negatively with emotional function.2

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Dr Alibhai is a Research Scientist of the National Cancer Institute of Canada. This study was also supported in part by the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and by unrestricted funds from the Ontario Ministry of Health. We thank the physicians and nurses in the Leukemia Program for their support and all of the study patients for their participation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of General Internal Medicine & Clinical Epidemiology, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada

    S M H Alibhai, M Leach, M E Kowgier & G A Tomlinson

  2. Geriatric Program, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto, Canada

    S M H Alibhai

  3. Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    S M H Alibhai, J M Brandwein & M D Minden

  4. Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    S M H Alibhai

  5. Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    G A Tomlinson

  6. Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada

    J M Brandwein & M D Minden

Authors
  1. S M H Alibhai
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  2. M Leach
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  3. M E Kowgier
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  4. G A Tomlinson
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  6. M D Minden
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Correspondence to S M H Alibhai.

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Alibhai, S., Leach, M., Kowgier, M. et al. Fatigue in older adults with acute myeloid leukemia: predictors and associations with quality of life and functional status. Leukemia 21, 845–848 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2404576

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