A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF DEFICITS IN BALANCE AND FUNCTION ASSOCIATED WITH POST-CHEMOTHERAPY IN INDIAN CANCER SURVIVORS

N. Singh¹, A. Gugnani²

¹Amar Jyoti Institute of Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy Department, Delhi, India, ²NIMS University, Physiotherapy Department, Jaipur, India

Background: Cancer is the world's second leading cause of death, trailing only cardiovascular disease. A group of diseases known as cancer cause the body's cells to change and grow out of control. Tumors are lumps or masses made up primarily of cancer cells. In order to prevent the growth, invasion, and spread of cancer cells to other tissues, chemotherapy refers to the drugs administered to cancer patients. Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells that may have spread to distant organs as they circulate through the bloodstream of the body. These drugs kill cancer cells, but they also harm healthy, normal cells, which is bad for the body. These adverse effects, which include fatigue, muscle weakness, and neuropathy, are associated with balance issues. To carry out daily tasks and maintain functional independence, gait and balance are crucial. Strong evidence shows that cancer survivors who experience CIPN symptoms have greater balance deficits and functional disability. It also shows that more severe CIPN symptoms are associated with greater balance deficits and functional disability. Chemotherapy-induced sensory and motor effects may make performing ADLs and maintaining functional independence difficult. Balance and coordination, muscle performance, and mobility are all commonly impaired or compromised aspects of function.

Purpose: To evaluate extent of balance impairment and functional deficits associated with the after effects of chemotherapy in Indian cancer survivors.

Methods: 384 Cancer survivors who were meeting the inclusion criteria and have undergone atleast one dose of chemotherapy with age 18 years and more were selected in the study. Balance assessment were done with one leg stand test and tug test. Function measures were done with functional independence measure (FIM) score.

Results: Out of 384, 289 participants shows deficits in mean tug score (75.3%) and 285 participants shows impairment in mean score of one leg stance (right leg )(74.2%) whereas 318 participants shows deficits in mean score of one leg stance (left leg )(82.8%). FIM total score mean ± SD was 92.83 ± 8.86383 which is relatively low.

Conclusions: There are balance impairment and functional deficits associated with the after effects of chemotherapy in Indian cancer survivors. Also FIM score indicates that cancer survivors are moderately independent.

Implications: This study considers how cancer may affect a person's life in the long term in terms of their neurological health. The physiotherapist should be aware in order to rule out the causes of balance impairment and functional deficits associated with the side effects of chemotherapy in Indian cancer survivors, the assessment should be as thorough as possible.

Funding acknowledgements: This study is self funded by the author.

Keywords:
Cancer
Chemotherapy
Balance

Topics:
Oncology, HIV & palliative care
Neurology
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) & risk factors

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: National Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Jaipur

Committee: Institutional Ethics Committee

Ethics number: NIMSUNI/IEC/2019/PhD/154