Jennifer R. Southall , 2025-05-01 18:00:00
Key takeaways:
- Cancer survivors with cancer-related fatigue and depression were twice as likely to reduce participation in recreational activities.
- Women cancer survivors were 1.5-times more likely to experience cancer-related fatigue than men survivors.
Cancer-related fatigue and depression led to a nearly twofold reduction in recreational activities among a national cohort of cancer survivors, according to study results.
Of note, women cancer survivors experienced a higher likelihood of cancer-related fatigue and depression compared with men.
A prevalent condition
“During the past few years, I noticed a lot of patients with cancer reported feeling exhausted, tired and fatigued. Cancer-related fatigue is one of the most prevalent conditions affecting up to 80% of individuals undergoing cancer treatment,” Simo Du, MD, MHS, researcher at Jacobi Medical Center Albert Einstein College of Medicine, said during a press briefing. “Unlike regular fatigue, cancer-related fatigue can persist years after receiving treatment and is usually not relieved with rest. Despite its high prevalence, cancer-related fatigue is overlooked and underscreened.”
Multiple factors contribute to cancer-related fatigue, including poor nutrition, anemia, pain, emotional distress, sleep disturbances, cancer treatments, tumor burden, comorbid conditions and physical deconditioning, according to Du.
Simo Du
“During our clinical observation, we observed more women compared with men reporting cancer-related fatigue, so this disproportionally affects women,” she said. “We were therefore interested in studying whether there were any sex differences in cancer-related fatigue and depression on quality of life. Also, does physical activity provide a protective role.”
Researchers pooled 2015-2016 and 2017-2020 data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to identify 1,552 cancer survivors (median age, 63.5 years; 52.6% women; 59.7% white), which represented 25 million survivors nationwide.
Participants had reported cancer-related fatigue and depression using the NHANES Depression and Anxiety Screening Questionnaire. They also reported physical activity via the NHANES Physical Activity Questionnaire.
Researchers then used sequential logistic regression models — unadjusted, adjusted for demographic variables (age and race) and fully-adjusted for demographics, socioeconomic factors (education, insurance) and comorbidities — to examine sex disparities in cancer-related fatigue and depression.
‘Different patterns’
Results showed that compared with men, women had a 54% higher likelihood of experiencing cancer-related fatigue (OR = 1.54; 95% CI, 1.08-2.19), and a 32% higher likelihood of experiencing depression (OR = 1.32; 95% CI, 0.74-2.38).
Researchers also observed significant associations between cancer-related fatigue and reduced recreational activity (OR = 1.93; 95% CI, 1.31-2.85), as well as between depression and reduced recreational activity (OR = 2.28; 95% CI, 1.22-4.25).
They did not observe significant associations between cancer-related fatigue and depression and work-related physical activity.
“This may indicate different patterns in leisure physical activity vs. work-related physical activity, with the potential for leisure physical activity being a better indicator for quality of life,” Du said. “Moderate-intensity recreational physical activity was linked to approximately 50% lower risk for cancer-related fatigue, and both moderate and vigorous recreational physical activity were associated with a two- to fivefold reduction in depression risk among cancer survivors.”
According to Du, future clinical studies should evaluate the effectiveness of interventions that could reduce cancer-related fatigue and improve quality of life, among other factors.
“For our next steps, we plan to investigate the association between cancer-related fatigue and etiology, inflammatory markers, and nutritional factors and vitamin levels,” she added. “We will also assess whether sex modifies these associations.”
For more information:
Simo Du, MD, MHS, can be reached at dus1@nychhc.org or on X at @simosimodu.
Sources/Disclosures
Collapse
Du S, et al. Abstract 4989. Presented at: American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting; April 25-30, 2025; Chicago.
Disclosures:
Du reports research funding from Patient Care Trust Fund of the Committee of Interns & Residents/SEIU; and honoraria from Chinese American Hematologist and Oncologist Network. Please see the study for all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
