Prevalence and Associated Factors of Anemia among Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the prevalence and factors associated with anemia (hemoglobin [Hb] 12 g/dL) in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Materials and Methods. We conducted a prospective longitudinal study to collect demographic and clinical data on adult breast cancer patients with or without anemia who were admitted to HKL, UMMC, and NCI. The incidence of anemia was determined by detecting whether or not anemia developed during the course of chemotherapy. Mild, moderate, or severe anemia was defined. A chi-squared and logistic regression model were used to assess the effect of demographic and clinical factors on the incidence of anemia and multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations of potential risk factors with the presence of CRA. Results. The study enrolled a total of 292 breast cancer patients. Anemia occurred at a rate of 41.1% (n = 120). Our findings indicated that clinical factors such as the number of chemotherapy regimens, dose reduction, and type of chemotherapy, for example, docetaxel, as well as demographic covariates such as age and BMI, all contribute to the incidence of anemia in cancer patients. Conclusions. According to this study, the prevalence of anemia in breast cancer patients is high. Patients' age, BMI, number of chemotherapy regimens, and docetaxel were risk factors; thus, protocols are needed to identify subgroups of breast cancer likely to benefit from novel management strategies.

Study of anemia in non-luminal solid tumors

“…However, Muthanna et al reported that older patients had a higher incidence of anemia. 12 In this study, the results are quite concerning, as a staggering 68 percent of the 100 patients with non-luminal tumours reported experiencing anaemia. On average, the haemoglobin levels of these anaemic patients were measured at 11.24, which is below the normal range, indicating a significant health concern.…”

“…The results suggest that there is no statistically significant association between anemia and the different types of cancer examined (p=0.38). Specifically, the highest number of individuals with anemia was observed in the head and neck cancer group ( 16), followed by CA breast (17), and female genital cancers (12). For some cancer types, there were no individuals with anemia, including hepatocellular carcinoma and phyllodes tumor.…”

“…Cancer-related anaemia (CRA) and fatigue are common side effects of cancer, negatively affecting patients' quality of life and prognosis. 12,13 Mild to moderate anaemia was not prioritized in cancer management until recently. 14,15 Anemia is frequently identified in advanced-stage cancer patients and can occur due to chronic inflammation caused by cancer even without antineoplastic treatment.…”

Prevalence, type and associated factors of anemia among patients with cancer in Sub Saharan Africa, systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Low hemoglobin (Hb) levels appear to have a direct impact on the effectiveness of treatment, especially radiation therapy. This is most likely because poor tissue oxygenation reduces radio sensitivity [11].…”

“…Additionally, tissue hypoxia may promote the growth of tumors and reduce the effectiveness of cytostatic medications. Fatigue, sleepiness, depression, dyspnea, tachycardia, and dizziness are symptoms of untreated anemia that can delay the onset of subsequent chemotherapy cycles and impair patients' quality of life [11].…”