Autonomic function measurements for evaluating fatigue and quality of life in patients with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy: a prospective longitudinal study

Table 1 Participant characteristics

Variable	n	%	Mean ± SD	Median	Range
Age, years			54.86 ± 10.45		34–78
Time since surgery, days				45.5	19–280
Tumor stage
Stage 0	7	12.3
Stage I	24	42.1
Stage II	19	33.3
Stage II	4	7.0
Type of surgery
Breast conserving surgery	44	77.2
Mastectomy	13	22.8
Chemotherapy
Neo adjuvant	9	15.8
Adjuvant	13	22.8
Both neoadjuvant and adjuvant	1	1.8
No	34	59.6
Time since chemotherapy, days				39	13–94
Hormone therapy
Antiestrogens (Tamoxifen)	16	28.1
Aromatase inhibitors	11	19.3
No	30	52.6
Planned for a radiation total dose, Gy				50	40–60
Type of radiotherapy
After breast-conserving surgery radiotherapy	44	77.2
Postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT)	13	22.8
Protocol of radiotherapy
Hypofractionated	36	63.2
Conventionally fractionated	21	36.8
Marital status
Unmarried	13	22.8
Married	41	71.9
Other	3	5.3
Time required for hospital visit
Less than 30 min	28	49.1
30 min or more	24	42.1
Living arrangement
Living with family	49	86.0
Alone	8	14.0
Employment status
Working	37	64.9
Unemployed	20	35.1
Presence of comorbidity
Yes	38	66.7
No	19	33.3
Type of comorbidity^a
Hypertension	8	14.0
Uterine fibroids	6	10.5
Asthma	5	8.8
Gallstone	3	5.3
Dyslipidemia	3	5.3
Diabetes mellitus	2	3.5
Appendicitis	2	3.5
Ovarian cystoma	2	3.5
Osteoporosis	2	3.5
Allergic rhinitis	2	3.5
ECOG PS
0	56	98.2
1	1	1.8
Symptoms (baseline)^b
Pain
Grade1	6	10.5
Lymphedema
Grade1	1	1.8
Grade2	1	1.8
Pruritus
Grade1	1	1.8
Hypersomnia
Grade1	1	1.8

The values of some variables do not add up to 100% owing to missing values
ECOG PS, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status; SD, standard deviation
a Multiple responses, only diseases for which more than one person responded are selected
b Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0

ISSN: 1748-717X