The Relationship of Body Mass Index with Severity of Fatigue and Quality of Life in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Sharare Zeighami Mohammadi¹, Pouri Houshmand², Mohammad Mahdi Kooshyar³, Habib-o-Allah Esmaily⁴

Background and Objective: Nutrition plays a major role in cancer development and treatment. Weight loss is a common problem in patients with cancer that has been identified as an indicator of increased mortality and morbidity in cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to determinate the relationship of body mass index with severity of fatigue and quality of life in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Methods and Materials: This study was a descriptive correlational study which utilized a purposeful sampling to select one hundred and twenty one outpatients with cancer. Data were collected by face-to-face interview using a questionnaire. The severity of fatigue and quality of life were respectively measured by fatigue severity scale and quality o life scale (EORTC QLQ-30).The analysis of data was carried out using Paired t-test.

Results: The findings showed a significant difference between mean of fatigue severity (P<0.001), quality of life (P<0.011) and BMI (p<0.003) before and after three cycles of chemotherapy. Also the scores of fatigue severity (P<0.008), quality of life (P<0.001) were significantly different during the three cycles of chemotherapy.

J Mashhad School Nurs Midw 2009; 9 (1): 59-64