Relationship Between Age and Symptoms of Pain and Fatigue in Adults Undergoing Treatment for Cancer

Background: Pain and fatigue are 2 of the most common symptoms experienced by individuals undergoing treatment for cancer. It has been hypothesized that older adults experience lower levels of severity and interference from pain and fatigue when compared with younger adults. Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify how pain and fatigue, severity, and interference may vary between younger and older adults undergoing cancer treatment over time. Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of data of 2 different randomized controlled trials that examined the symptom experience in adults undergoing treatment for cancer. A linear mixed model analysis was used to determine the differences based on age across 6 contacts over 8 weeks. Results: Results indicate that pain severity is significantly (P < .01) related to age. Age was not found to be significantly related to the level of interference associated with pain or the severity or interference associated with fatigue. Conclusion: Symptoms of pain and fatigue are prevalent across age groups and will vary across time. Older and younger adults do not necessarily experience symptoms differently. Interference associated with pain and fatigue impacts all age groups; interference may not be directly related to the level of severity. Implications for Practice: This study highlights the importance of assessing both severity and interference associated with symptoms in all adults undergoing treatment for cancer. Further research is needed to better understand the relationship between age and symptoms in individuals undergoing treatment for cancer.