Nerenz et al developed an index to identify patients receiving chemotherapy who were likely to develop anticipatory nausea. This is based on findings following the first administration of chemotherapy. The index can help identify patients who may benefit from interventions to reduce the experience of nausea. The authors are from the University of Wisconsin and the Middleton Memorial VA Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.
Parameters:
(1) anxiety before injection
(2) taste during injection
(3) nausea and/or vomiting after chemotherapy
(4) age
|
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
|
anxiety |
no |
-1 |
|
|
yes |
1 |
|
taste |
no |
-1 |
|
|
yes |
1 |
|
nausea and/or vomiting |
neither nausea nor vomiting |
-1 |
|
|
nausea without vomiting |
0 |
|
|
vomiting with/without nausea |
1 |
|
age |
< 40 years |
1 |
|
|
40 – 59 years |
0 |
|
|
>= 60 years |
-1 |
anticipatory nausea index =
= SUM(points for all 4 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: -4
• maximum score: 4
• The higher the score, the more likely anticipatory nausea will be encountered during the first 6 chemotherapy cycles.
|
Index |
Percent with Anticipatory Nausea |
|
-4 |
0% |
|
-3 |
14.3% |
|
-2 |
31.2% |
|
-1 |
52.6% |
|
0 |
57.7% |
|
1 |
88.2% |
|
2 |
90.9% |
|
3 |
100% |
|
4 |
100% |
Purpose: To identify a patient likely to experience anticipatory nausea to chemotherapy based on findings associated with the first drug infusion.
Specialty: Hematology Oncology, Pharmacology, clinical
Objective: selection, adverse effects
ICD-10: T45.1,
