TY - JOUR
T1 - Neuropsychological Effects of Chemotherapy
T2 - Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies on Objective Cognitive Impairment in Breast Cancer Patients
AU - Kim, Hee Ju
AU - Kim, Jung Eun Esther
AU - Jung, Sun Ok
AU - Lee, Dasuel
AU - Abraham, Ivo
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2023/5/1
Y1 - 2023/5/1
N2 - Background Findings from longitudinal studies can provide more conclusive evidence as to the impact of chemotherapy on cognitive functioning. Objectives This study aimed to (a) synthesize the evidence from longitudinal studies of the neuropsychological effects associated with chemotherapy in breast cancer patients, (b) identify associated factors, and (c) evaluate methodological issues. Methods Data were extracted from PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library. Inclusion criteria included the original study with the breast cancer sample, validated measure, and at least 1 baseline data point before and after chemotherapy began. Data accrued for sample characteristics, data-collection time points, statistical methods for longitudinal data analysis, outcome measures, and major findings (eg, longitudinal changes in cognitive function). Results We selected 42 articles for this review. The sample sizes ranged from 20 to 610, and most recruited were younger than 70 years. We found a trend across studies - statistically significant objective cognitive function deteriorations in severity and prevalence after initiating chemotherapy compared with a control group or relative to their baseline observations. A subsample, as high as 65%, experienced marked declines in cognitive function after initiating chemotherapy. The memory domain was most affected. The consistently associated factors were education, IQ, and regimen. Major methodological concerns were the measurement - the wide range of neuropsychological tests and a test's unclear domains. Conclusion Chemotherapy affects objective cognitive function in some subsets. The highest-impact time point, mechanisms, and clinical significance of chemotherapy-associated cognitive impairment need additional evidence. Implication for Practice Clinicians must assess and manage cognitive impairment during and after chemotherapy.
AB - Background Findings from longitudinal studies can provide more conclusive evidence as to the impact of chemotherapy on cognitive functioning. Objectives This study aimed to (a) synthesize the evidence from longitudinal studies of the neuropsychological effects associated with chemotherapy in breast cancer patients, (b) identify associated factors, and (c) evaluate methodological issues. Methods Data were extracted from PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library. Inclusion criteria included the original study with the breast cancer sample, validated measure, and at least 1 baseline data point before and after chemotherapy began. Data accrued for sample characteristics, data-collection time points, statistical methods for longitudinal data analysis, outcome measures, and major findings (eg, longitudinal changes in cognitive function). Results We selected 42 articles for this review. The sample sizes ranged from 20 to 610, and most recruited were younger than 70 years. We found a trend across studies - statistically significant objective cognitive function deteriorations in severity and prevalence after initiating chemotherapy compared with a control group or relative to their baseline observations. A subsample, as high as 65%, experienced marked declines in cognitive function after initiating chemotherapy. The memory domain was most affected. The consistently associated factors were education, IQ, and regimen. Major methodological concerns were the measurement - the wide range of neuropsychological tests and a test's unclear domains. Conclusion Chemotherapy affects objective cognitive function in some subsets. The highest-impact time point, mechanisms, and clinical significance of chemotherapy-associated cognitive impairment need additional evidence. Implication for Practice Clinicians must assess and manage cognitive impairment during and after chemotherapy.
KW - Cancer
KW - Cognitive function
KW - Cognitive impairment
KW - Neuropsychological test
KW - Systematic review
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85153120381&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/NCC.0000000000001079
DO - 10.1097/NCC.0000000000001079
M3 - Article
C2 - 35324504
AN - SCOPUS:85153120381
SN - 0162-220X
VL - 46
SP - E159-E168
JO - Cancer Nursing
JF - Cancer Nursing
IS - 3
ER -