Risk Factors of Chemotherapy-Induced Painful Peripheral Neuropathy: A Retrospective Study from A Single Cancer Center

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Neurology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) affects up to 50% of patients undergoing chemotherapy, leading to treatment modifications and long-term disability.
• Identifying patients at high risk for CIPN, especially those with diabetes or on corticosteroids, remains a clinical challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key risk factors for CIPN by analyzing patient demographics, comorbidities, and chemotherapy regimens.
• To specifically investigate diabetes-related variables for early CIPN identification and prevention.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective, single-center, observational cohort study of adult patients receiving chemotherapy (January 2016 - December 2023).
• CIPN defined by ICD-10 code G62.0 and painful peripheral neuropathy diagnosis.
• Data included demographics, clinical variables (diabetes, alcohol, corticosteroids), and chemotherapy details; analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Significant CIPN risk factors: older age, female sex, non-Hispanic/non-Latino ethnicity, and corticosteroid use.
• African American patients had lower CIPN odds compared to White patients.
• Diabetic neuropathy strongly increased CIPN risk (OR 5.35), while alcohol use showed an inverse association (OR 0.75).

Conclusions:

• Key CIPN risk factors identified: age, race/ethnicity, corticosteroid use, and diabetic neuropathy.
• Alcohol use's inverse association requires further research to clarify causality.
• Individualized assessments and proactive management are crucial for reducing CIPN incidence and improving patient outcomes.