Clinical characteristics, severity and symptom burden of anaemia among patients with cancer receiving treatment

Anaemia is a common complication among patients with cancer that contributes to impaired physical functioning, increased symptom burden and a reduced quality of life. The present study examined the mechanisms through which clinical characteristics and symptom burden affect the severity of anaemia in adults undergoing active cancer treatment. The present descriptive‑analytical cross‑sectional study evaluated the severity of anaemia and its association with clinical characteristics and symptom burden in 254 adult patients with cancer receiving treatment. Data were obtained via face‑to‑face interviews, chart reviews and physical examinations, and symptom burden was measured using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including the Chi‑square and Fisher's tests. The mean age of the study participants was 51.19±10.79 years, and 57.09% of these participants were female. The majority of the patients (87.4%) had moderate anaemia, with a mean haemoglobin concentration of 9.14±1.02 g/dl. Laboratory findings demonstrated a pattern suggestive of anaemia of inflammation, with low serum iron and increased ferritin and C‑reactive protein levels. Moderate symptom burden was reported, particularly tiredness, drowsiness, anxiety, depression and poor overall well‑being. The severity of anaemia was significantly associated with the type of cancer (P=0.007). There was no statistically significant association between categorical anaemia severity and overall symptom‑burden categories (P=0.150); however, the mean haemoglobin levels differed significantly across symptom‑burden categories (P=0.003), with lower haemoglobin levels observed among patients with a greater symptom burden. On the whole, these findings highlight the importance of assessing anaemia severity and symptom burden among patients with cancer with anaemia receiving treatment.