Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The impact of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting on health-related quality of life

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Supportive Care in Cancer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Goal of work

The objectives of this prospective observational study were to estimate the frequency of patients who reported an impact of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) on their daily life and to evaluate the determinants of such an impact.

Materials and methods

Adult cancer patients at seven Italian oncology centers who were receiving cisplatin-containing regimens reported incidence and intensity of CINV for eight consecutive days in a diary and completed a Functional Living Index for Emesis (FLIE) questionnaire.

Main results

Overall, 34% of patients reported vomiting and 62% reported nausea after chemotherapy. On days 1 to 5 after receiving chemotherapy, 67% of patients who had at least one emetic episode and 77% of those who suffered from at least mild nausea experienced an impact on their daily activities as measured on the FLIE questionnaire. More than 90% of all patients with both acute and delayed nausea or vomiting reported an impact on their daily life. Both acute and delayed vomiting contributed in similar measure to impact daily life; however, the importance of delayed nausea was greater than that of acute nausea.

Conclusions

Despite antiemetic prophylaxis, CINV is still prevalent and often impacts the daily life of patients in Italy, especially in the delayed phase. The duration more than the severity seems to be responsible for the impact of CINV on the patients’ daily lives.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aapro MS, Molassiotis A, Olver I (2005) Anticipatory nausea and vomiting. Support Care Cancer 13:117–121

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Antiemetic Subcommittee of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) (1998) Prevention of chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced emesis: results of Perugia Consensus Conference. Ann Oncol 9:811–819

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Ballatori E (2001) Unsolved problems in evaluating the quality of life of cancer patients. Ann Oncol 12(Suppl 3):S11–S13

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Ballatori E, Roila F (2003) Impact of nausea and vomiting on quality of life in cancer patients during chemotherapy. Health Qual Life Outcomes 1:46–58

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. de Boer-Dennert M, de Wit R, Schmitz PI et al (1997) Patient perceptions of the side-effects of chemotherapy: the influence of 5HT3 antagonists. Br J Cancer 76:1055–1061

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Fabi A, Barduagni M, Lauro S et al (2003) Is delayed chemotherapy-induced emesis well managed in oncological clinical practice? An observational study. Support Care Cancer 11:156–161

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Glaus A, Knipping C, Morant R et al (2004) Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in routine practice: a European perspective. Support Care Cancer 12:708–715

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Gralla RJ, Osoba D, Kris MG et al (1999) Recommendations for the use of antiemetics: evidence-based, clinical practice guidelines. American Society of Clinical Oncology. J Clin Oncol 17:2971–2994

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Griffin AM, Butow PN, Coates AS et al (1996) On the receiving end. V: patient perceptions of the side effects of cancer chemotherapy in 1993. Ann Oncol 7:189–195

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Grunberg SM, Deuson RR, Mavros P et al (2004) Incidence of chemotherapy-induced nausea and emesis after modern antiemetics. Cancer 100:2261–2268

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Grunberg SM, Osoba D, Hesketh PJ et al (2005) Evaluation of new antiemetic agents and definition of antineoplastic agent emetogenicity—an update. Support Care Cancer 13:80–84

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Italian Group for Evaluation of Outcomes in Oncology (IGEO) (1999) Patient compliance with quality of life questionnaires. Tumori 85:92–95

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kris MG, Hesketh PJ, Herrstedt J et al (2005) Consensus proposals for the prevention of acute and delayed vomiting and nausea following high-emetic-risk chemotherapy. Support Care Cancer 13:85–96

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Lindley CM, Hirsch JD, O’Neill CV et al (1992) Quality of life consequences of chemotherapy-induced emesis. Qual Life Res 1:331–340

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Martin AR, Pearson JD, Cai B et al (2003) Assessing the impact of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting on patients’ daily lives: a modified version of the Functional Living Index—Emesis (FLIE) with 5-day recall. Support Care Cancer 11:522–527

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Osoba D, Zee B, Warr D et al (1997) Effect of postchemotherapy nausea and vomiting on health-related quality of life. The Quality of Life and Symptom Control Committees of the National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group. Support Care Cancer 5:307–313

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Roila F, Donati D, Tamberi S et al (2002) Delayed emesis: incidence, pattern, prognostic factors and optimal treatment. Support Care Cancer 10:88–95

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. The Antiemetic Subcommittee of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) (2006) Prevention of chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced emesis: results of the 2004 Perugia International Antiemetic Consensus Conference. Ann Oncol 17:20–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. The Italian Group For Antiemetic Research (1992) Ondansetron + dexamethasone vs metoclopramide + dexamethasone + diphenhydramine in prevention of cisplatin-induced emesis. Lancet 340:96–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. The Italian Group for Antiemetic Research (1995) Dexamethasone, granisetron, or both for the prevention of nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy for cancer. N Engl J Med 332:1–5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. The Italian Group of Antiemetic Research (1995) Ondansetron versus granisetron, both combined with dexamethasone, in the prevention of cisplatin-induced emesis. Ann Oncol 6:805–810

    Google Scholar 

  22. The Italian Group for Antiemetic Research (1997) Ondansetron versus metoclopramide, both combined with dexamethasone, in the prevention of cisplatin-induced delayed emesis. J Clin Oncol 15:124–130

    Google Scholar 

  23. The Italian Group for Antiemetic Research (2000) Dexamethasone alone or in combination with ondansetron for the prevention of delayed nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy. N Engl J Med 342:1554–1559

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Uyl-de Groot CA, Wait S, Buijt I (2000) Economics and health-related quality of life in antiemetic therapy: recommendations for trial design. Eur J Cancer 36:1522–1535

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by Merck and Company, Incorporated, Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. Writing assistance was provided by Elizabeth V. Hillyer, DVM, ELS, with support from Merck and Company, Incorporated.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Statistics Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Public Health, University of L’Aquila, Via Pillino 2, 63030, Spinetoli (AP), Italy

    Enzo Ballatori

  2. Medical Oncology Division, Policlinic Hospital, Perugia, Italy

    Fausto Roila & Maura Betti

  3. Department of Prevention, ASUR Marche, ZT 13, Ascoli Piceno, Italy

    Benedetta Ruggeri

  4. Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Samanta Sarti

  5. Division of Medical Oncology, Ospedale Civile, Sassari, Italy

    Giancarla Soru

  6. Oncology Department, Ospedale Civile, Lugo di Ravenna, Italy

    Giorgio Cruciani

  7. Medical Oncology B, National Cancer Institute, Naples, Italy

    Massimo Di Maio

  8. Department of Oncology, San Carlo Borromeo Hospital, Milan, Italy

    Biffi Andrea

  9. Outcomes Research, Merck and Company, Incorporated, Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA

    Robert R. Deuson

Authors
  1. Enzo Ballatori
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Fausto Roila
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Benedetta Ruggeri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Maura Betti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Samanta Sarti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Giancarla Soru
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Giorgio Cruciani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Massimo Di Maio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Biffi Andrea
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Robert R. Deuson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Enzo Ballatori.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ballatori, E., Roila, F., Ruggeri, B. et al. The impact of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting on health-related quality of life. Support Care Cancer 15, 179–185 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-006-0109-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-006-0109-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation