Prevalence, Incidence and Management of Anemia in Cancer Patients Treated in the Radiation Oncology Division, Siriraj Hospital

Authors

  • Pawinee Mahasittiwat Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
  • Pittayapoom Pataranutraporn Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
  • Nantakan Ieumwananonthachai Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
  • Pittaya Dankulchai Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
  • Yaowalak Chansilpa Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
  • Supatra Sangruchi Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
  • Vutisiri Veerasarn Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
  • Nan Suntornpong Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
  • Kullathorn Thephamongkhol Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
  • Janjira Petsuksiri Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
  • Suthipol Udompunturak Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University

Keywords:

Anemia, cancer, radiotherapy

Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to find the prevalence of anemia in cancer patients before radiotherapy and the incidence of anemia during radiotherapy treatment. The study also planned to identify factors that affect the incidence and prevalence of anemia and the management of anemia in the Division of Radiation Oncology, Siriraj Hospital.
Methods: This study is designed prospectively to collect hemoglobin level and factors that might cause anemia in patients whom were treated with radiotherapy at Siriraj Hospital during April - June 2006. The eligible criteria were patients age >18 years old, had a pathology confirmed to be malignancy, and had never been treated with radiotherapy before. Patients were excluded if they were not treated with radiotherapy, had skin/central nervous system or hematologic malignancies. In this trial, anemia was defined as Hb level <12 g/dl for both genders.
Results: It was found that the prevalence of anemia within 30 days before starting radiotherapy was 54.4% and the incidence of anemia during radiotherapy was 34.3%. The frequency of anemia, defined as the number of patients in the study in whom Hb <12.0 g/dL were found at least once either at enrollment or during the survey, was 66%. Previous chemotherapy was the main predicting factor for anemia before radiotherapy. Concurrent chemo-radiotherapy patients developed a higher incidence of anemia during the survey than patients with radiotherapy alone. The incidence of anemia was highest in gynecologic malignancy patients. Only 25/112 (22.3%) of anemic patients at initial evaluation received treatment for anemia. Most of the patients were treated with a blood transfusion and none was treated with erythropoietin. Our mean trigger hemoglobin level for treatment of anemia was 9.3 g/dl. Conclusion: Anemia is common in the patients who are treated with radiotherapy in our institute with the prevalence of anemia before starting radiotherapy as high as 54.4% especially in patients previously treated with chemotharapy. One-thirds of patients developed anemia during radiotherapy, with a higher incidence in gynecologic malignancy patients and patients who receive combined chemo-radiotherapy. The total frequency of anemia in patients treated in the Division of Radiation Oncology, Siriraj Hospital was as high as 66% before and during radiotherapy. 

Downloads

Published

01-07-2008

How to Cite

Mahasittiwat, P. ., Pataranutraporn, P. ., Ieumwananonthachai, N., Dankulchai, P. ., Chansilpa, Y., Sangruchi, S., Veerasarn, V. ., Suntornpong, N., Thephamongkhol, K. ., Petsuksiri, J. ., & Udompunturak, S. . (2008). Prevalence, Incidence and Management of Anemia in Cancer Patients Treated in the Radiation Oncology Division, Siriraj Hospital. Siriraj Medical Journal, 60(5), 235–239. Retrieved from https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/sirirajmedj/article/view/246444

Issue

Section

Original Article