Frequency of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Cancer Patients in Sari Imam Khomeini Hospital

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a debilitating condition that may require reduction or discontinuation of chemotherapy. Identifying effective methods in treatment of established CIPN requires determining the frequency of CIPN. There is a lack of comprehensive studies on this issue, so, this study was conducted to investigate the frequency of peripheral neuropathy caused by chemotherapy in cancer patients in Sari Imam Khomeini Hospital.

This longitudinal study was done in cancer patients receiving thalidomide derivatives, vinca alkaloids, taxanes, proteasome inhibitors, platinums, and microtubule destabilizers in Comprehensive Cancer Center at Sari Imam Khomeini Hospital (2021-2022). Neurotoxicity was assessed by the EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 questionnaire before the start of the chemotherapy cycle and three months later. Data analysis was carried out in SPSS by applying Mann-Whitney U test, t-test, and Chi-square.

The study included 103 patients. Fifty-four patients (52.4%) were younger than 55 years old and 49 (47.6%) were older than 55 years of age. Forty-nine patients (47.6%) developed chemotherapy-induced neuropathy in the three-month follow-up. Symptoms were more frequent in women, but were not significant (P=0.11). The average body mass index in patients who experienced neuropathy was higher than that in patients without neuropathy.

Almost half of the patients developed CIPN which raises the need for preventive training and interventions.