Table 1.
Somatic Symptom Prevalence and Severity in 405 Cancer Patients with Pain and/or Depression
| Somatic Symptom | Patient Reported Symptom | Bothered a little | Bothered a lot | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N | % | (95% CI) | N | % | (95% CI) | N | % | (95% CI) | |
| Feeling tired or having low energy | 395 | 97.8 | (96.0–99.0) | 76 | 18.8 | (15.0–22.6) | 319 | 78.8 | (74.8–82.8) |
| Trouble falling or staying asleep | 319 | 78.8 | (74.8–82.8) | 91 | 22.5 | (18.4–26.5) | 228 | 56.3 | (51.5–61.1) |
| Pain in arms, legs, or joints | 316 | 78.0 | (74.0–82.1) | 85 | 21.0 | (17.0–25.0) | 231 | 57.0 | (52.2–61.9) |
| Back pain | 303 | 74.8 | (70.6–79.0) | 111 | 27.4 | (23.1–31.8) | 192 | 47.4 | (42.6–52.3) |
| Problems with remembering things | 292 | 72.1 | (67.7–76.5) | 152 | 37.6 | (32.8–42.3) | 140 | 34.6 | (29.9–39.2) |
| Having a dry mouth | 283 | 69.9 | (65.4–74.4) | 105 | 25.9 | (21.7–30.2) | 178 | 44.0 | (39.1–48.8) |
| Shortness of breath | 262 | 64.7 | (60.0–69.3) | 129 | 31.9 | (27.3–36.4) | 133 | 32.8 | (28.3–37.4) |
| Gas or indigestion | 246 | 60.7 | (56.0–65.5) | 130 | 32.1 | (27.6–36.7) | 116 | 28.6 | (24.2–33.0) |
| Feeling drowsy or sleeping too much | 246 | 60.7 | (56.0–65.5) | 113 | 27.9 | (23.5–32.3) | 133 | 32.8 | (28.3–37.4) |
| Numbness or tingling | 242 | 59.8 | (55.0–64.5) | 123 | 30.4 | (25.9–34.9) | 119 | 29.4 | (24.9–33.8) |
| Lack of appetite | 229 | 56.6 | (51.7–61.4) | 106 | 26.2 | (21.9–30.5) | 123 | 30.4 | (25.9–34.9) |
| Headaches | 229 | 56.6 | (51.7–61.4) | 147 | 36.3 | (31.6–41.0) | 82 | 20.3 | (16.3–24.2) |
| Dizziness | 225 | 55.6 | (50.7–60.4) | 159 | 39.3 | (34.5–44.0) | 66 | 16.3 | (12.7–19.9) |
| Stomach pain | 221 | 54.6 | (49.7–59.4) | 124 | 30.6 | (26.1–35.1) | 97 | 24.0 | (19.8–28.1) |
| Nausea | 208 | 51.4 | (46.5–56.2) | 133 | 32.8 | (28.3–37.4) | 75 | 18.5 | (14.7–22.3) |
| Constipation | 192 | 47.4 | (42.6–52.3) | 96 | 23.7 | (19.6–27.8) | 96 | 23.7 | (19.6–27.8) |
| Feeling your heart pound or race | 182 | 44.9 | (40.1–49.8) | 132 | 32.6 | (28.0–37.2) | 50 | 12.4 | (9.2–15.6) |
| Diarrhea or loose bowels | 175 | 43.2 | (38.4–48.0) | 99 | 24.4 | (20.3–28.6) | 76 | 18.8 | (15.0–22.6) |
| Chest pain | 138 | 34.1 | (29.5–38.7) | 89 | 22.0 | (18.0–26.0) | 49 | 12.1 | (8.9–15.3) |
| Vomiting | 108 | 26.7 | (22.4–31.0) | 75 | 18.5 | (14.7–22.3) | 33 | 8.2 | (5.5–10.8) |
| Menstrual cramps or problems * | 16 | 9.5 | (5.1–14.0) | 6 | 3.6 | (0.8–6.4) | 10 | 6.0 | (2.4–9.5) |
| Fainting spells | 28 | 6.9 | (4.4–9.4) | 19 | 4.7 | (2.6–6.8) | 9 | 2.2 | (0.8–3.7) |
*
Menstrual symptoms were asked about only in women ≤ 50 y/o (n = 168)