Evidence map›Paper›PMID 22461866›Full record

ArticleDeutsches Arzteblatt international2012

Cancer-related fatigue: epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment.

Markus Horneber, Irene Fischer, Fernando Dimeo, Jens Ulrich Rüffer, Joachim Weis

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Deutsches Arzteblatt international, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 97 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
97citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

97 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Methodologic challenges of patient reported outcome research: A systematic review of the treatment of cancer related fatigue with open label placebos and the trials.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
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  5. Effects of aerobic exercise on cancer-related fatigue: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2016
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  10. Open-label placebo reduces fatigue in cancer survivors: a randomized trial.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2019
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  14. Effect of dance on cancer-related fatigue and quality of life.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2014
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  20. Herbal and pharmacological treatments in cancer-related fatigue.Translational gastroenterology and hepatology · 2026
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37 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Markus HorneberMedical Clinic 5-Nuremberg Hospital: Internal Medicine, Oncology, Hematology, Germany. horneber@klinikum-nuernberg.de
Irene Fischer
Fernando Dimeo
Jens Ulrich Rüffer
Joachim Weis

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMany cancer patients suffer from cancer-related fatigue (CRF) both during and after their treatment. CRF can arise at any point in the course of the disease and can be either self-limited or persistent, sometimes for years. It gives rise to a vicious circle of impaired physical performance, avoidance of exertion, inactivity, inadequate physical recovery, helplessness, and depressed mood. Its hallmarks are tiredness, exhaustion, and lack of energy; it can impair performance so severely that the patient is unable to work. It is associated with increased mortality. Cancer patients are hardly ever systematically asked about the symptoms and signs of CRF. The stress and impairments that it produces are often inadequately appreciated, and the opportunities for treatment often neglected.

methodSelective review of the pertinent literature, including published guidelines from Germany and abroad.

resultsThe pathogenesis of CRF is complex, involving an interaction of somatic, emotional, cognitive, and psychosocial factors, with a highly variable pattern of clinical expression. Clinical history-taking plays a key role in diagnostic assessment. Depressive disorders must be considered in the differential diagnosis. Many randomized trials and meta-analyses have documented the efficacy of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for CRF.

conclusionCancer-related fatigue is a serious problem that impairs patients physically, mentally, and socially. Physicians need to know how to recognize and treat it.

Indexed as

CausalityComorbidityFatigueGermanyHumansNeoplasmsPrevalenceRisk AssessmentRisk FactorsSurvival AnalysisSurvival Rate

Identifiers

PMID22461866
PMCPMC3314239

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.