Faculty Collaboration Database

Orthostatic intolerance in survivors of childhood cancer. Eur J Cancer 2007 Dec;43(18):2685-90

Date

08/11/2007

Pubmed ID

17689953

DOI

10.1016/j.ejca.2007.06.017

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-36348964796   4 Citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: To compare the prevalence and severity of orthostatic intolerance in survivors of childhood cancer and in healthy controls, and to correlate results of self-reported measures of health status with orthostatic testing in survivors of childhood cancer.

PATIENT AND METHODS: Thirty-nine survivors of childhood cancer and 56 controls were recruited for this study. Each cancer survivor completed standardised self-report measures and all participants underwent a standing test (5 min supine, 10 min of motionless standing leaning against a wall, followed by another 2 min supine). The main outcomes of the standing test were orthostatic tachycardia (OT), defined as a heart rate increase of at least 30 beats per minute (bpm) during standing, and neurally mediated hypotension (NMH), defined as a drop in systolic blood pressure of at least 25 mmHg.

RESULTS: OT developed in 22/39 (56%) cancer survivors versus 17/56 (30%) controls (P=.01). Cancer survivors had a higher baseline and maximum standing heart rate (both P<.001) and a more rapid onset of significant OT (P=.005). No significant difference in scores on self-report measures was found between cancer survivors with or without OT.

CONCLUSION: This study provides preliminary evidence of a higher rate of orthostatic intolerance in childhood cancer survivors. Further study is warranted to better define whether this is a modifiable risk factor for fatigue in this population, and how orthostatic intolerance interacts with other known risk factors for lowered quality of life.

Author List

Terlou A, Ruble K, Stapert AF, Chang HC, Rowe PC, Schwartz CL

Author

Cindy L. Schwartz MD, MPH Chief, Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adult
Blood Pressure
Case-Control Studies
Child
Fatigue
Female
Health Status
Heart Rate
Humans
Hypotension, Orthostatic
Male
Neoplasms
Posture
Quality of Life
Survivors
Tachycardia