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Prevalence of and factors associated with clinically important levels of fatigue, pain, and insomnia in survivors of cancer: a population-based cross-sectional study.

Anne Katrine Graudal Levinsen ,
Susanne Oksbjerg Dalton ,
Erik Jakobsen ,
Ismail Gögenur ,
Michael Borre ,
Robert Zachariae ,
Peter Christensen ,
Søren Laurberg ,
Peter de Nully Brown ,
Lisbet Rosenkrantz Hölmich ,
Christoffer Johansen ,
Susanne K Kjær ,
Lonneke van de Poll-Franse ,
Trille Kristina Kjaer

Abstract

METHODS

Cross-sectional study including 39,374 survivors of breast, prostate, lung, colon, rectum cancer, melanoma, and lymphoma diagnosed at age 40 or older between Jan 2010 and Dec 2019. Prevalences and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for clinically important fatigue, pain, and insomnia by sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors were calculated.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinically important fatigue, pain, or insomnia are common in survivors of cancer, and two in five report two or all three late effects. Report of these symptoms is associated with social and clinical vulnerability factors.

RESULTS

Among all survivors, 42% reported clinically important fatigue, pain, or insomnia, and 21% reported concurring symptoms. Prevalences were highest in women, survivors of breast and lung cancer, with short education, low income, comorbidity, obesity, and smokers. Adjusted analyses showed increased odds in women (OR fatigue 1.46, 95% CI 1.39-1.54; OR pain 1.62, 95% CI 1.55-1.70; OR insomnia 2.11, 95% CI 1.99-2.24), survivors with comorbidity (OR fatigue 2.97, 95% CI 2.78-3.18; OR pain 2.13, 95% CI 2.00-2.27; OR insomnia 1.67, 95% CI 1.55-1.80), smokers (OR fatigue 1.96, 95% CI 1.80-2.13; OR pain 1.67, 95% CI 1.55-1.81; OR insomnia 1.46, 95% CI 1.33-1.60), and survivors with obesity (OR fatigue 1.92, 95% CI 1.80-2.06; OR pain 2.21, 95% CI 2.08-2.35; OR insomnia 1.32, 95% CI 1.22-1.42).

PURPOSE

To identify risk factors and patient characteristics in survivors who report clinically important fatigue, pain, and insomnia.

IMPLICATION FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Management of survivorship care requires targeted consideration of the complexity and overall impact of these late effects.

More about this publication

Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice

Publication date 14-06-2025

Full text links

Publisher website (DOI) 10.1007/s11764-025-01851-z
Europe PubMed Central 40515943
Pubmed 40515943

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