Association of traditional Chinese medicine body constitution and moderate-to-severe cancer-related fatigue in cancer patients

Abstract

Background and purposeFatigue is one of the most prevalent adverse events reported by cancer patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between traditional Chinese medicine body constitution (TCMBC) and moderate-to-severe cancer-related fatigue in cancer patients. Materials and methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on cancer patients recruited from a regional hospital in southern Taiwan. The association between TCMBC, measured using the Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CCMQ) and moderate-to-severe cancer-related fatigue (based on the Taiwanese version of the Brief Fatigue Inventory score ≥ 4) was evaluated using multiple logistic regression analysis. ResultsOf the 170 participants, 37 (21.8%) had moderate-to-severe fatigue. Yang-deficiency (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.50–8.40) and Qi-deficiency (aOR = 2.84, 95% CI = 1.18–6.82) TCMBC were significantly associated with moderate-to-severe cancer-related fatigue. ConclusionTCMBC could be used as a clinical tool to identify cancer patients prone to experience moderate-to-severe cancer-related fatigue, and to provide Chinese medicine practitioners a basis for selecting an appropriate treatment approach based on TCMBC.