Table 2.
Unadjusted and adjusted RR (95% CI) for symptoms of neuropathy in early-stage breast cancer survivors classified by median time since completing taxane chemotherapy, and in women without cancer (controls).
| EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 | Survivors n = 646 No. (%) |
Controls n = 1040 No. (%) |
Survivors vs. controls Unadjusted RR Adjusteda RR (95% CI) | Survivors <3.6 years n = 321 No. (%) |
Survivors <3.6 years vs controls Adjusteda RR (95% CI) |
Survivors ≥3.6 years n = 325 No. (%) |
Survivors ≥3.6 years vs controls Adjusteda RR (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sensory symptoms | |||||||
| Tingling of fingers or hands | 311/642 (48.4) | 333/1025 (32.5) |
1.5 (1.3–1.7) 1.4 (1.2–1.7) |
168/320 (52.5) | 1.7 (1.4–2.2) | 143/322 (44.4) | 1.3 (1.1–1.7) |
| Not at all | 331 (51.6) | 692 (67.6) | 152 (47.5) | 179 (55.6) | |||
| A little | 190 (29.6) | 232 (22.6) | 98 (30.6) | 92 (28.6) | |||
| Quite a bit | 84 (13.1) | 70 (6.8) | 45 (14.1) | 39 (12.1) | |||
| Very much | 37 (5.8) | 31 (3.0) | 25 (7.8) | 12 (3.7) | |||
| Tingling of toes or feet | 308/642 (48.0) | 236/1025 (23.0) |
1.9 (1.6–2.2) 1.8 (1.5–2.1) |
169/319 (53.0) | 2.5 (1.9–3.2) | 139/323 (43.0) | 1.8 (1.4–2.3) |
| Not at all | 334 (52.0) | 789 (77.0) | 150 (47.0) | 184 (57.0) | |||
| A little | 159 (24.8) | 168 (16.4) | 79 (24.8) | 80 (24.8) | |||
| Quite a bit | 98 (15.3) | 52 (5.1) | 54 (17.0) | 44 (13.6) | |||
| Very much | 51 (7.9) | 16 (1.6) | 36 (11.3) | 15 (4.6) | |||
| Numbness of fingers or hands | 309/640 (48.3) | 365/1021 (35.8) |
1.4 (1.2–1.6) 1.3 (1.1–1.6) |
150/319 (47.0) | 1.6 (1.2–2.0) | 143/321 (44.6) | 1.3 (0.9–1.6) |
| Not at all | 331 (51.7) | 656 (64.3) | 153 (48.0) | 178 (55.6) | |||
| A little | 188 (29.4) | 262 (25.7) | 96 (30.1) | 92 (28.7) | |||
| Quite a bit | 90 (14.1) | 68 (6.7) | 50 (15.7) | 40 (12.5) | |||
| Very much | 31 (4.8) | 35 (3.4) | 20 (6.3) | 11 (3.4) | |||
| Numbness of toes or feet | 308/641 (48.1) | 243/1025 (23.7) |
1.9 (1.6–2.2) 1.8 (1.5–2.2) |
175/320 (54.7) | 2.6 (2.0–3.3) | 133/321 (41.4) | 1.8 (1.4–2.3) |
| Not at all | 333 (52.0) | 782 (76.3) | 145 (45.3) | 188 (58.6) | |||
| A little | 156 (24.3) | 170 (16.6) | 85 (26.6) | 71 (22.1) | |||
| Quite a bit | 105 (16.4) | 53 (5.2) | 60 (18.8) | 45 (14.0) | |||
| Very much | 47 (7.3) | 20 (2.0) | 30 (9.4) | 17 (5.3) | |||
| Shooting or burning of fingers or hands | 142/637 (22.3) | 176/1024 (17.2) |
1.2 (1.1–1.5) 1.2 (0.9–1.4) |
78/316 (24.7) | 1.2 (0.9–1.6) | 64/321 (19.9) | 1.1 (0.8–1.5) |
| Not at all | 495 (77.7) | 848 (82.8) | 238 (75.3) | 257 (80.1) | |||
| A little | 90 (14.1) | 114 (11.1) | 45 (14.2) | 45 (14.0) | |||
| Quite a bit | 36 (5.7) | 44 (4.3) | 23 (7.3) | 13 (4.1) | |||
| Very much | 16 (2.5) | 18 (1.8) | 10 (3.2) | 6 (1.9) | |||
| Shooting or burning of toes or feet | 191/641 (29.8) | 177/1024 (17.3) |
1.5 (1.3–1.8) 1.5 (1.2–1.7) |
104/320 (32.5) | 1.7 (1.3–2.2) | 87/321 (27.1) | 1.6 (1.2–2.0) |
| Not at all | 450 (70.2) | 847 (82.7) | 216 (67.5) | 234 (72.9) | |||
| A little | 102 (15.9) | 108 (10.6) | 51 (15.9) | 51 (15.9) | |||
| Quite a bit | 64 (10.0) | 47 (4.6) | 34 (10.6) | 30 (9.3) | |||
| Very much | 25 (3.9) | 22 (2.1) | 19 (5.9) | 6 (1.9) | |||
| Problems in standing or walking because of difficulty feeling the ground under feet | 157/638 (24.6) | 107/1025 (10.4) |
1.7 (1.4–2.1) 1.7 (1.4–2.0) |
88/319 (27.6) | 2.1 (1.6–2.8) | 69/319 (21.6) | 1.8 (1.3–2.4) |
| Not at all | 481 (75.4) | 918 (89.6) | 231 (72.4) | 250 (78.4) | |||
| A little | 93 (14.6) | 66 (6.4) | 46 (14.4) | 47 (14.7) | |||
| Quite a bit | 45 (7.1) | 22 (2.1) | 31 (9.7) | 14 (4.4) | |||
| Very much | 19 (3.0) | 19 (1.9) | 11 (3.4) | 8 (2.5) | |||
| Difficulty distinguishing between hot and cold water | 57/640 (8.9) | 31/1025 (3.0) |
1.8 (1.3–2.3) 1.7 (1.3–2.2) |
30/319 (9.4) | 2.0 (1.3–2.9) | 27/321 (8.4) | 2.0 (1.3–3.0) |
| Not at all | 583 (91.1) | 994 (97.0) | 289 (91.0) | 294 (91.6) | |||
| A little | 42 (6.6) | 20 (2.0) | 23 (7.2) | 19 (5.9) | |||
| Quite a bit | 9 (1.4) | 5 (0.5) | 4 (1.3) | 5 (1.6) | |||
| Very much | 6 (0.9) | 6 (0.6) | 3 (0.9) | 3 (0.9) | |||
| Difficulty hearing | 237/643 (36.9) | 393/1018 (38.6) |
1.0 (0.8–1.1) 0.9 (0.8–1.1) |
126/319 (39.5) | 1.0 (0.8–1.3) | 111/324 (34.3) | 0.9 (0.7–1.1) |
| Not at all | 406 (63.1) | 625 (61.4) | 193 (60.5) | 213 (65.7) | |||
| A little | 167 (26.0) | 301 (29.6) | 83 (26.0) | 84 (25.9) | |||
| Quite a bit | 51 (7.9) | 70 (6.9) | 30 (9.4) | 21 (6.5) | |||
| Very much | 19 (3.0) | 22 (2.2) | 13 (4.1) | 6 (1.9) | |||
| Motor symptoms | |||||||
| Cramps in hands | 143/638 (22.4) | 200/1024 (19.5) |
1.3 (1.1–1.5) 1.3 (1.1–1.6) |
90/318 (28.3) | 1.5 (1.1–1.9) | 83/320 (25.9) | 1.4 (1.1–1.8) |
| Not at all | 465 (72.9) | 824 (80.5) | 228 (71.7) | 237 (74.1) | |||
| A little | 120 (18.8) | 144 (14.1) | 64 (20.1) | 56 (17.5) | |||
| Quite a bit | 39 (6.1) | 40 (3.9) | 20 (6.3) | 19 (5.9) | |||
| Very much | 14 (2.2) | 16 (1.6) | 6 (1.9) | 8 (2.5) | |||
| Cramps in feet | 362/642 (56.4) | 390/1025 (38.1) |
1.6 (1.3–1.8) 1.5 (1.2–1.7) |
176/320 (55.0) | 1.5 (1.2–1.9) | 185/322 (57.5) | 1.7 (1.4–2.2) |
| Not at all | 281 (43.8) | 635 (62.0) | 144 (45.0) | 137 (42.6) | |||
| A little | 196 (30.5) | 285 (27.8) | 95 (29.7) | 100 (31.1) | |||
| Quite a bit | 119 (18.5) | 85 (8.3) | 59 (18.4) | 60 (18.6) | |||
| Very much | 47 (7.3) | 20 (2.0) | 22 (6.9) | 25 (7.8) | |||
| Problem holding a pen, which made writing difficult | 91/639 (14.2) | 110/1026 (10.7) |
1.2 (0.9–1.5) 1.2 (0.9–1.5) |
49/319 (15.4) | 1.4 (0.9–1.9) | 42/320 (13.1) | 1.1 (0.8–1.6) |
| Not at all | 548 (85.8) | 916 (89.3) | 270 (84.6) | 278 (86.9) | |||
| A little | 66 (10.3) | 79 (7.7) | 35 (11.0) | 31 (9.7) | |||
| Quite a bit | 18 (2.8) | 17 (1.7) | 9 (2.8) | 9 (2.8) | |||
| Very much | 7 (1.1) | 14 (1.4) | 5 (1.6) | 2 (0.6) | |||
| Difficulty manipulating small objects with fingers | 259/642 (40.3) | 255/1021 (25.0) |
1.5 (1.3–1.8) 1.5 (1.3–1.8) |
137/318 (43.1) | 1.8 (1.4–2.3) | 122/324 (37.7) | 1.6 (1.2–2.0) |
| Not at all | 383 (59.7) | 766 (75.0) | 181 (56.9) | 202 (62.3) | |||
| A little | 176 (27.4) | 173 (16.9) | 94 (29.6) | 82 (25.3) | |||
| Quite a bit | 56 (8.7) | 60 (5.9) | 27 (8.5) | 29 (9.0) | |||
| Very much | 27 (4.2) | 22 (2.2) | 16 (5.0) | 11 (3.4) | |||
| Difficult opening a jar or bottle because of weakness in hands | 394/643 (61.3) | 491/1022 (48.0) |
1.4 (1.2–1.6) 1.4 (1.1–1.6) |
198/320 (61.9) | 1.4 (1.1–1.8) | 196/323 (61.0) | 1.5 (1.2–1.9) |
| Not at all | 249 (38.7) | 531 (52.0) | 122 (38.1) | 127 (39.3) | |||
| A little | 239 (37.2) | 322 (31.5) | 103 (32.2) | 136 (42.1) | |||
| Quite a bit | 109 (17.0) | 115 (11.3) | 68 (21.3) | 41 (12.7) | |||
| Very much | 46 (7.2) | 54 (5.3) | 27 (8.4) | 19 (5.9) | |||
| Difficulty walking because of foot drop | 46/639 (7.2) | 35/1019 (3.4) |
1.5 (1.1–2.1) 1.5 (1.1–2.1)` |
24/316 (7.6) | 1.8 (1.1–2.8) | 22/323 (6.8) | 1.6 (0.9–2.5) |
| Not at all | 593 (92.8) | 984 (96.6) | 292 (92.4) | 301 (93.2) | |||
| A little | 32 (5.0) | 23 (2.3) | 17 (5.4) | 15 (4.6) | |||
| Quite a bit | 7 (1.1) | 9 (0.9) | 4 (1.3) | 3 (0.9) | |||
| Very much | 7 (1.1) | 3 (0.3) | 3 (1.0) | 4 (1.2) | |||
| Difficulty climbing stairs or getting up out of a chair because of weakness in legs | 254/644 (39.4) | 255/1023 (24.9) |
1.5 (1.3–1.7) 1.4 (1.2–1.7) |
139/320 (43.4) | 1.7 (1.3–2.2) | 115/324 (35.5) | 1.5 (1.1–1.9) |
| Not at all | 390 (60.6) | 768 (75.1) | 181 (56.6) | 209 (64.5) | |||
| A little | 161 (25.0) | 164 (16.0) | 89 (27.8) | 72 (22.2) | |||
| Quite a bit | 68 (10.6) | 62 (6.1) | 39 (12.2) | 29 (9.0) | |||
| Very much | 25 (3.9) | 29 (2.8) | 11 (3.4) | 14 (4.3) | |||
| Autonomic symptoms | |||||||
| Dizziness when standing up from a sitting or lying position | 291/640 (45.5) | 378/1023 (37.0) |
1.2 (1.1–1.5) 1.3 (1.1–1.5) |
140/316 (44.3) | 1.3 (1.1–1.6) | 151/324 (46.6) | 1.4 (1.1–1.8) |
| Not at all | 349 (54.5) | 645 (63.1) | 176 (55.7) | 173 (53.4) | |||
| A little | 223 (34.8) | 313 (30.6) | 109 (34.5) | 114 (35.2) | |||
| Quite a bit | 56 (8.8) | 54 (5.3) | 26 (8.2) | 30 (9.3) | |||
| Very much | 12 (1.9) | 11 (1.2) | 5 (1.6) | 7 (2.2) | |||
| Blurred vision | 188/642 (29.3) | 186/1019 (18.3) |
1.4 (1.2–1.7) 1.3 (1.1–1.5) |
100/320 (31.3) | 1.4 (1.1–1.8) | 88/322 (27.3) | 1.3 (1.1–1.7) |
| Not at all | 454 (70.7) | 833 (81.7) | 220 (68.8) | 234 (72.7) | |||
| A little | 145 (22.6) | 147 (14.4) | 78 (24.4) | 67 (20.8) | |||
| Quite a bit | 32 (5.0) | 36 (3.5) | 15 (4.7) | 17 (5.3) | |||
| Very much | 11 (1.7) | 3 (0.3) | 7 (2.2) | 4 (1.2) | |||
| Only if you drive a car | |||||||
| Difficulty using pedals when driving a car | 24/530 (4.5) | 22/852 (2.6) |
1.4 (0.9–2.1) 1.1 (0.7–1.8) |
13/260 (5.0) | 1.2 (0.6–2.3) | 11/270 (4.1) | 1.2 (0.6–2.4) |
| Not at all | 506 (95.5) | 830 (97.4) | 247 (95.0) | 259 (96.0) | |||
| A little | 16 (3.0) | 18 (2.1) | 8 (3.1) | 8 (3.0) | |||
| Quite a bit | 7 (1.3) | 3 (0.4) | 5 (1.9) | 2 (0.7) | |||
| Very much | 1 (0.2) | 1 (0.1) | 0 | 1 (0.4) | |||
RR relative risk, CI confidence interval, EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Module.
Denominator is dependent on the number of respondents answering a specific item and may differ from the maximum sum.
a Adjusted for age, body mass index, alcohol consumption, folic acid deficiency, B12 deficiency, joint pain, osteoporosis, thrombosis, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disease, menopausal status, exogenous oestrogen and use of vibrating hand tools.