More than 25% of cancer survivors report mobility disability
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More than one-fourth of cancer survivors reported having a physical disability that diminished their mobility, according to study results published in Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Nearly 10% reported a disability that impacted self-care, findings showed.
Researchers analyzed national survey data on 47,768 U.S. adult cancer survivors, as well as data on more than 2.4 million individuals with no cancer history.
A higher percentage of cancer survivors than cancer-free individuals reported a mobility disability (27.9% vs. 13.4%). A higher percentage of cancer survivors reported disability in self-care tasks (7.4% vs. 3.8%).
“Our study suggests a need for systematic monitoring of functional disabilities in cancer survivors, especially those who are actively receiving treatment or belong to high-risk groups,” study first author Chao Cao, PhD, MPH, research fellow at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, told Healio. “Implementing routine screenings and assessments for functional disabilities can help in early identification and intervention, potentially reducing the severity and impact of these conditions.”
Healio spoke with Cao about what prompted this research, the implications of the findings and what clinicians can do to help cancer survivors at risk for disability.
Healio: Why did you conduct this study?
Cao: Many people experience side effects from cancer and its treatment. These include pain, fatigue, cachexia and musculoskeletal impairments, which can lead to acute and long-term functional limitations, and, eventually, disabilities. Cancer-related disabilities impair quality of life, limit patients' ability to care for themselves, and induce substantial societal and economic burden. Understanding prevalence and factors of functional disabilities among cancer survivors is critical to develop preventive and management strategies targeting cancer-related disabilities.
Healio: How did you conduct the investigation?
Cao: We pooled 6-year data — from 2017 to 2022 — from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a nationwide telephone-based survey conducted by the CDC, to investigate prevalence and factors of functional disabilities. Functional disabilities included mobility disability — defined as self-reported serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs — and self-care disability, defined as self-reported difficulty dressing or bathing. We also evaluated sociodemographic, lifestyle and health-related factors of functional disabilities.
Healio: What did you find?
Cao: Cancer survivors exhibited a higher prevalence of mobility and self-care disabilities than individuals without cancer. Functional disabilities were more prevalent among racial/ethnic minorities and underserved groups, including those with low socioeconomic status and those living in rural areas. We also found that mobility and self-care disabilities were more prevalent among those undergoing active treatment and among those experiencing cancer- or treatment-related pain.
Healio: What are the potential implications of these findings?
Cao: The findings underscore the importance of developing ways to limit the long-term adverse events of cancer treatment, both during and after treatment, to preserve physical function and ward off disability. Targeted interventions should address special needs in vulnerable populations, such as racial/ethnic minorities and those residing in rural areas, to improve their quality of life during long-term survivorship.
Healio: How can clinicians counsel patients with cancer about the potential for these disabilities to develop?
Cao: These findings highlight the importance of screening for functional limitations at baseline and throughout cancer treatment. Oncology providers should encourage patients to be physically active during therapy. ASCO and American College of Sports Medicine both recommend regular exercise during treatment to help preserve fitness and reduce the incidence and severity of treatment-related toxicities. Providers also can provide referrals to rehabilitation services and support groups for additional care and support as needed.
These findings also suggest the need to develop novel strategies to monitor patients' functional abilities, perhaps through the use of wearable devices or other novel monitoring techniques.
Reference:
For more information:
Chao Cao, PhD, MPH, can be reached at chao_cao@dfci.harvard.edu.
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