A Longitudinal Study of PROMIS Pediatric Symptom Clusters in Children Undergoing Chemotherapy.

CONTEXT

Children in treatment for cancer experience multiple, troubling, and interrelated symptoms. Analyzing the interrelatedness of symptoms and how that changes during treatment could yield clinically relevant patient profiles to guide patient care.

OBJECTIVES

The aims were to identify pediatric profiles with respect to Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health) symptom measures, changes in profile status throughout a chemotherapy cycle, and if a baseline single-item fatigue measure could significantly predict symptom profile status and its changes.

METHODS

In a longitudinal, single-site, three data point (T1, T2, and T3) design, children between 8 and 18 years completed the PROMIS Pediatric short form measures for fatigue, depression, anxiety, and pain and one fatigue item from the Symptom Distress Scale. Latent profile analysis and latent transition analysis were conducted.

RESULTS

About 96 children participated; 58.3% were between 13 and 18 years, and 54.2% were males. Two latent profiles (less severe symptoms and severe symptoms) were identified. The prevalence of the severe symptom profile remained relatively unchanged from T1 to T2 but significantly declined at T3. The baseline single-item fatigue score significantly predicted the child's profile membership and its changes.

CONCLUSION

Children experiencing troubling symptoms during cancer treatment are heterogeneous. With respect to the PROMIS symptom measures, two a priori unknown distinct latent profiles of patients were identified in a course of chemotherapy, and the transitions in the profile status were significantly predicted by a baseline single-item fatigue measure.