Work Productivity and Activity Impairment in Colorectal Cancer Patients Treated with Capecitabine

Giulia Malaguarnera, Manuela Pennisi, Giuseppe Grosso, Marco Vacante, Salvatore Salomone, Filippo Drago, Michele Malaguarnera, Erdogan Ozyalcin, Massimo Motta, Valentina Raciti, Mariano Malaguarnera

Department of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
International PhD Programme in Neuropharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Research Center “The Great Senescence”, Cannizzaro Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.

DOI: 10.4236/jct.2013.47139                

Abstract

Background: The employment status of workers with cancer has important implications for impairment of intimate and family relationships and for economic, social and psychological health. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of chemotherapy with capecitabine in patients with colorectal cancer on work productivity and daily activity. Methods: 30 patients with primary diagnosis of stage III colorectal cancer were enrolled for our study. All patients received capecitabine twice daily at a cumulative dose of 2500 mg/m² on days 1 -14 and repeated on day 22. Work productivity was determined using the WPAI questionnaire. Results: We observed a significant increase in absenteeism after 1 cycle, after 6 cycles of therapy and at follow-up (p < 0.001). On the other hand, presenteeism, work productivity loss and daily activity impairment, increased after 1 cycle and 6 cycles of therapy, but we could not find statistically different significances. Conclusions: Colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment are associated with frailty and vulnerability. Chemotherapy with capecitabine may result in negative consequences for job performance.

Keywords

Capecitabine; Colorectal Cancer; Work Productivity; Activity Impairment; Absenteeism; Presenteeism

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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