Common and distinct risk factors that influence more severe and distressing shortness of breath profiles in oncology...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Symptom Management
• Psychosocial Oncology

Background:

• Shortness of breath (SOB) affects 10%-70% of oncology patients.
• Interindividual variability in SOB severity and distress is poorly understood.
• Risk factors for SOB symptom burden require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify patient subgroups with distinct SOB severity and distress profiles using latent profile analysis (LPA).
• To examine demographic, clinical, symptom, stress, and resilience factors associated with these SOB profiles.
• To conduct a joint LPA integrating both SOB severity and distress.

Main Methods:

• Latent profile analysis (LPA) applied to SOB severity and distress ratings collected six times over two chemotherapy cycles.
• A joint LPA was performed using both severity and distress ratings.
• Differences among identified latent classes were assessed using parametric and nonparametric tests.

Main Results:

• Two classes for severity (Slight to Moderate, Moderate to Severe) and two for distress (A Little Bit to Somewhat, Somewhat to Quite a Bit) were identified.
• A joint LPA revealed two classes: Lower Severity and Distress, and Higher Severity and Distress.
• Common risk factors for worse SOB profiles included smoking history, poorer functional status, higher comorbidity burden, increased symptom burden, and elevated cancer-specific stress.

Conclusions:

• The study identified distinct patient profiles for shortness of breath severity and distress.
• Specific risk factors, including smoking, functional status, and comorbidity, are associated with higher symptom burden.
• Findings can guide clinicians in identifying high-risk patients and tailoring interventions for SOB.