Key result
Definite or severe autonomic dysfunction in patients with advanced cancer was associated with significantly reduced median survival (106 days vs 135 days) and increased severity of fatigue.
Why the study?
In patients with advanced cancer, cardiac autonomic neuropathy is prevalent and linked to poor prognosis, but its etiologic mechanisms remain incompletely elucidated.
Cohort (n=185)
No
Heart rate variability may serve as a useful index for managing cardiac autonomic neuropathy to improve survival and quality of life in cancer patients.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
High CAN prevalence with poor prognosis in advanced cancer; leaves open mechanisms and prospective management trials.
In patients with advanced cancer, the prevalence rate of cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is high, and the prognosis of patients with CAN is generally poor. Although mechanisms including inflammation, infection, metabolism, neurodegeneration, toxic processes, and cancer treatment have been proposed as etiologies of CAN in cancer patients, these mechanisms have not been completely elucidated, and their relationship has only been described indirectly. A study involving 127 cancer patients revealed that both the disease and its treatments can lead to a decrease in heart rate variability (HRV) indicating the autonomic imbalance. Because managing CAN is essential for improving the survival and quality of life of patients with cancer, patients and specialists can work together to customize cancer treatment and management using HRV as an index.
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Kikuchi et al. (2025) conducted a cohort in Advanced cancer (n=185). Definite or severe autonomic dysfunction vs. Normal, early, or atypical autonomic function was evaluated on Median survival (days) (p=0.028). Definite or severe autonomic dysfunction in patients with advanced cancer was associated with significantly reduced median survival (106 days vs 135 days) and increased severity of fatigue.
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