Table 2.
Questionnaire data
| CRFS cases | Controls | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variable | Mean | SD | Mean | SD | p Value |
| FS total | 18.87 | 5.35 | 9.22 | 6.35 | <0.001 |
| FACT-F total | 26.84 | 8.07 | 14.54 | 6.83 | <0.001 |
| ISI total | 13.96 | 5.99 | 9.01 | 5.98 | <0.001 |
| HADS total | 14.82 | 6.47 | 7.26 | 5.03 | <0.001 |
| VAS-F scale | 6.44 | 1.53 | 4.73 | 2.29 | <0.001 |
| EORTC QLQ-30 subscales | |||||
| Physical functioning | 69.19 | 19.45 | 85.80 | 14.00 | <0.001 |
| Global health status | 81.09 | 16.80 | 56.07 | 22.79 | <0.001 |
| Emotional functioning | 63.70 | 20.73 | 80.80 | 17.98 | <0.001 |
| Cognitive functioning | 56.67 | 23.41 | 79.47 | 19.63 | <0.001 |
| Social functioning | 59.26 | 27.65 | 84.81 | 19.69 | <0.001 |
| Fatigue | 55.80 | 21.52 | 25.44 | 17.68 | <0.001 |
| Nausea/vomiting | 7.04 | 13.98 | 2.42 | 6.57 | 0.04 |
| Pain | 37.04 | 33.88 | 16.91 | 21.86 | 0.01 |
| Dyspnoea | 22.96 | 27.36 | 11.59 | 19.66 | 0.02 |
| Insomnia | 48.15 | 32.22 | 37.68 | 32.29 | 0.09 |
| Appetite loss | 11.85 | 23.74 | 7.25 | 14.98 | 0.25 |
| Constipation | 12.59 | 23.88 | 6.28 | 14.32 | 0.15 |
| Diarrhoea | 2.96 | 9.59 | 3.86 | 13.45 | 0.68 |
| Financial difficulties | 31.85 | 34.78 | 9.18 | 20.52 | <0.001 |
| EORTC BR23 subscales | |||||
| Breast systemic therapy side effects | 30.37 | 16.22 | 16.25 | 11.53 | <0.001 |
| Breast symptoms | 38.89 | 18.63 | 20.05 | 16.69 | <0.001 |
| Arm symptoms | 32.59 | 29.24 | 12.91 | 16.25 | <0.001 |
The VAS-F is a visual analogue fatigue scale from 0 to 10. Values indicate average fatigue over the last 7 days.
The EORTC QLQ-30 (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer 30-item Quality of Life Questionnaire) has defined subscales of functioning and symptom scores. Higher scores on symptom subscales indicate greater symptom severity, and higher scores on functional subscales indicate better functioning.
The EORTC BR23 is a breast specific module with functioning and symptom scales.
CRFS, cancer-related fatigue syndrome; FACT-F, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – fatigue subscale; FS, Chalder Fatigue Scale; HADS, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; ISI, Insomnia Severity Index.