Cancer and treatment-related symptoms are associated with mobility disability in women with ovarian cancer

abstract:
Cancer and treatment-related symptoms are associated with mobility disability in women with ovarian cancer: A cross-sectional study
  

Highlights

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Mobility disability is endorsed by over half of women with ovarian cancer.

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Poor appetite, bloating, fatigue, pain, numbness correlate with disability.

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Clinicians should assess for mobility disability in women with ovarian cancer.

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Objective

To examine the prevalence of symptom-related mobility disability and identify specific symptoms and other factors associated with mobility disability among a national sample of ovarian cancer (OC) survivors.

Methods

Descriptive, correlational secondary analysis of a National Ovarian Cancer Coalition mailed survey of women with a history of OC (n = 713). We used the Symptom Representation Questionnaire (SRQ), the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) Interference Scale, and medical and demographic information to determine prevalence of symptom-related mobility disability. We constructed a multiple linear regression model to determine the relative contributions of specific symptoms and other factors to mobility disability.

Results

A majority of the sample (60.0%) reported symptom-related mobility disability. Independent predictors included: > one comorbidity, active OC, abdominal bloating, fatigue, lack of appetite, numbness/tingling, and pain. The model explained 41.5% of the variance in symptom-related mobility disability. Unexpectedly, age and current chemotherapy were not significant predictors.

Conclusions

Symptom-related mobility disability is common among women with OC and is associated with medical comorbidities, abdominal bloating, fatigue, lack of appetite, numbness/tingling, and pain. Longitudinal research should clarify the relationship of these symptoms to mobility disability and determine whether effective symptom management minimizes disability.