2061P - Network analysis of comprehensive concerns in patients with cancer: Differences between the sexes

Background

Patients’ concerns have become more complicated, while the advancements in cancer treatments have improved clinical outcomes. This study aims to comprehensively explore the concerns of cancer patients and to elucidate their interrelationships.

Methods

A fact-finding survey was conducted with 300 cancer patients (male; 127, female; 173) using a 74-item questionnaire. The questionnaire included comprehensive items (rated from 0 [none] to 3 [severe]) related to the concerns of cancer patients. Correlation network analysis was performed to visualize the association between the patients’ concerns. Degree centrality was used to assess network centrality, and the Girvan–Newman algorithm was used to detect communities.

Results

Cancer types were as follows: breast cancer (n=84), gastrointestinal cancer (n=82), urologic cancer (n=52), cholangiopancreatic cancer (n=44), gynecologic cancer (n=20), and others (n=18). The mean overall score was significantly higher in females than in males (30.4 vs. 22.5, p<0.01). The most frequent concerns were physical decline (81.7 %), fatigue (80.5 %), muscle weakness in the limbs (65.9 %). In the overall network, the concerns with the highest centrality score were muscle weakness in the limbs (0.151), nutritional management (0.123) and fatigue (0.082). The network was classified into three communities: 1) physical decline, including 21 items such as muscle weakness, nutritional management, and fatigue; 2) changes in appearance, including 8 items such as pigmentation and hair loss; 3) social support, including 11 items such as employment and finances. The network analysis by gender showed that the highest centered item was sex life (0.123) in men, and depression (0.137) and anxiety (0.110) in women.

Conclusions

This study illustrated that cancer-related fatigue and weakness were the most frequently and numerous interrelated concerns that plagued patients with cancer. Furthermore, they formed a wide-ranging network with other concerns. Our study also showed that the structure of the network differed between the sexes. A multidisciplinary approach may be necessary to comprehensively solve interrelated patient concerns.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

The authors.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

Y. Miura: Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: Takeda, MSD, Bristol Myers Squibb, Ono Pharmaceutical, Merck BioPharma, Eisai, Astellas Pharma; Financial Interests, Institutional, Local PI: Ono Pharmaceutical, MSD. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.