Symptom burden among men treated for castration-resistant prostate cancer: a longitudinal study

Despite rapid expansion of treatments for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and the importance of symptom management for enhancing quality of life, few studies have focused on men's experiences of symptom burden over time when receiving one or more lines of treatment in a real-world situation in this phase. The aim was to investigate changes in the multidimensional symptom burden during the first year of life-prolonging treatment of mCRPC.

Longitudinal data from the first year of life-prolonging treatment for 134 men with mCRPC were used. Symptoms were measured with the multidimensional Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale. Data are presented with descriptive statistics, and changes in symptom burden (physical, psychological and number of symptoms) were analysed using linear mixed modelling.

On average, the men had approximately 10 (0-31) symptoms at inclusion and 12 (0-33) at the last time point. Lack of energy and sweats were the two most reported symptoms at every time point. Sexual problems had the highest scores in all dimensions (frequency, severity, distress). Regarding pain, the distress score was higher than the scores for frequency and severity at t1-t4. Physical symptom burden and the number of symptoms changed significantly over time, towards a higher symptom burden. Psychological symptom burden did not change significantly over time.

The different dimensions of physical symptoms in men treated for mCRPC need to be more acknowledged. Early integration of a palliative care approach could possibly help in enhancing symptom management and quality of life for these men.