Mancuso, A., Migliorino, M., De Santis, S., Saponiero, A., & De Marinis, F. (2006). Correlation between anemia and functional/cognitive capacity in elderly lung cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. Annals of Oncology, 17, 146–150.
To investigate whether any association exists between hemoglobin (Hgb) levels and functional capacity, cognitive impairment, and comorbidities in older adult patients with lung cancer who were treated with chemotherapy
Patients were evaluated prior to the initiation of chemotherapy (baseline) and before each subsequent cycle (after 21 days) for quality of life, mental capacity, functional status, depression, and comorbidities.
A descriptive prospective study design was used.
Hgb level was significantly correlated with cognitive function at baseline prior to chemotherapy (r = 0.61, p < 0.002), as well as after one (r = 0.48, p < 0.002) and two cycles (r = 0.60, p < 0.002) of chemotherapy. A significant association was discovered between the change in Hgb levels and cognitive capacity as defined by the MMSE after the first (r = 0.48, p < 0.002) and second cycle (r = 0.60, p < 0.002) of chemotherapy. Significant associations were found between Hgb levels and VAS, CIRS-G, ADL, IADL assessments, and GDS at baseline and GDS at baseline and after one and two cycles of chemotherapy (p < 0.05). The strength of these correlations varied. Change in Hgb level was associated with the change in all above parameters with the exception of IADL, which was not significant.
Although the study was not designed to demonstrate a clinical benefit of erythropoietin on cognitive function during treatment, the authors noted that 14 patients who received erythropoietin during the first two cycles of chemotherapy experienced increases in the Hgb level and CGA indexes whereas patients who did not receive erythropoietin had a lowering of the Hgb levels and worsening of their CGA scores.