Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40591144›Full record

Observational studyJournal of patient-reported outcomes2025

Decline in quality of life among caregivers of patients undergoing chemotherapy for incurable cancer: implications for early social and medical support.

Nobumichi Takeuchi, Saiko Kurosawa, Sonomi Yoshida, Kumiko Koike

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Journal of patient-reported outcomes, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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

4 authors.

Nobumichi TakeuchiDepartment of Medical Oncology, Ina Comprehensive Cancer Treatment Centre Ina Central Hospital, 1313 -1 Koshirou-Kubo, Ina, Nagano, 396-8555, Japan. ntakeuti@inahp.jp.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9953-785X
Saiko KurosawaDepartment of Medical Oncology, Ina Comprehensive Cancer Treatment Centre Ina Central Hospital, 1313 -1 Koshirou-Kubo, Ina, Nagano, 396-8555, Japan.
Sonomi YoshidaDepartment of Medical Oncology, Ina Comprehensive Cancer Treatment Centre Ina Central Hospital, 1313 -1 Koshirou-Kubo, Ina, Nagano, 396-8555, Japan.
Kumiko KoikeDepartment of Medical Oncology, Ina Comprehensive Cancer Treatment Centre Ina Central Hospital, 1313 -1 Koshirou-Kubo, Ina, Nagano, 396-8555, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRecent advances in cancer treatment have extended patient survival and improved quality of life (QOL), often enabling home-based chemotherapy. However, this shift places a growing burden on informal caregivers, impacting their own well-being. This study aims to explore changes in caregiver QOL over the course of treatment and identify contributing factors.

methodsWe conducted a single-institution, prospective observational study involving patients receiving chemotherapy for unresectable or recurrent solid tumors and their primary caregivers. QOL was assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 before each treatment line. Scores were stratified by treatment duration and line. Paired t-tests and multiple linear regression analyses were performed.

resultsAmong 378 patient-caregiver pairs, caregiver emotional and cognitive functioning declined over time, particularly with longer treatment durations and later treatment lines. Fatigue prevalence increased to 100% by the fourth-line treatment. Regression analyses revealed that caregiver QOL was affected by patient symptoms (e.g., insomnia, appetite loss), patient QOL scores, treatment duration, and caregiver age and gender.

conclusionsCaregivers experienced progressive emotional and cognitive declines paralleling the patient's clinical trajectory. These findings highlight the necessity of early and comprehensive support systems for caregivers, including psychological and social support, to maintain their QOL throughout cancer treatment.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic AgentsCaregiversNeoplasmsQuality of LifeSocial SupportAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesAntineoplastic Agents

Identifiers

PMID40591144
PMCPMC12214165

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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.