J Korean Acad Nurs. 2012 Oct;42(5):644-658. Korean.
Published online Oct 31, 2012.
© 2012 Korean Society of Nursing Science
Original Article

A Meta-analysis of Chemotherapy related Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Breast Cancer

Jin-Hee Park,1 and Sun Hyoung Bae2
    • 1College of Nursing, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea.
    • 2College of Nursing, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
Received April 13, 2012; Accepted September 21, 2012.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cognitive effects of chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer.

Methods

Using several databases, prospective studies were collected up to August 2011. Of 2,106 publications identified, 12 met the inclusion criteria, and 8 studies were used to estimate the effect size of chemotherapy on cognitive impairment.

Results

Twelve studies were done since 2005 and most of the research was performed in Europe or North America. Eight studies were used to generate effect size across the cognitive domains of attention/concentration, verbal and visual memory, executive function, visuospatial skill, language, and subjective cognitive function. Each of the cognitive domains showed small effect sizes (-0.02 ~ -0.26), indicating diminished cognitive function for the chemotherapy group compared with non-chemotherapy groups.

Conclusion

Finding suggests that breast cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy may experience mild cognitive decline. Further study is needed to generate knowledge and guideline for interventions to address chemotherapy related cognitive impairment in these patients.

Keywords
Chemotherapy; Mild cognitive impairment; Attention; Memory; Breast neoplasms

Figures

Figure 1
Flow diagram of study screening.

Tables

Table 1
Characteristics of Studies Included in the Systematic Review

Table 2
Characteristics of 12 Research Studies (N=12)

Table 3
Effect Sizes for Chemotherapy on Cognitive Function

Notes

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (KRF) funded by the Korea government (MEST) (2011-0012145).

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