Risk Factors of Armstrong et al for Moderate to Severe Fatigue in a Patient with a Primary Brain Tumor

Description

Armstrong et al identified risk factors associated with moderate to severe fatigue in patients with a primary brain tumor. These can help to identify patients who should be asked about their level of fatigue. The authors are from the University of Texas at Houston and the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Patient selection: primary brain tumor

Predictors for moderate to severe fatigue:

(1) female gender

(2) Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) 80 or less (poor)

(3) disease status not stable (newly diagnosed, recurrent, progressive) on imaging studies

Predictors for males include:

(1) therapy with antidepressants (infers depression)

(2) therapy with opioids (infers pain)

(3) Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) 80 or less (poor)

Predictors for females include:

(1) disease status not stable (newly diagnosed, recurrent, progressive) on imaging studies

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