• Christina Teng, Elodie Chiarovano, David Tighe, Kim Tam Bui, VenkateshaClinical Research Centre, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia., Prunella L Blinman, Hamish G MacDougall, and Janette L Vardy.
• Concord Cancer Centre, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
• Intern Med J. 2023 Aug 1; 53 (8): 135613651356-1365.

BackgroundChemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common dose-limiting toxicity for people treated for cancer. Impaired balance and falls are functional consequences of CIPN. Virtual reality (VR) technology may be able to assess balance and identify patients at risk of falls.AimsTo assess the impact of potentially neurotoxic chemotherapy on balance using VR, and explore associations between VR balance assessment, falls and CIPN.MethodsThis prospective, repeated measures longitudinal study was conducted at two Australian cancer centres. Eligible participants were commencing adjuvant chemotherapy containing a taxane for breast cancer, or oxaliplatin for colorectal cancer (CRC), per institutional guidelines. Balance assessments using VR were conducted at baseline, end of chemotherapy and 3 and 6 months after completion of chemotherapy. Participants also completed a comprehensive CIPN assessment comprising clinical and patient-reported outcomes, and recorded falls or near falls.ResultsOut of 34 participants consented, 24 (71%) had breast cancer and 10 (29%) had CRC. Compared to baseline, balance threshold was reduced in 10/28 (36%) evaluable participants assessed at the end of chemotherapy, and persistent in 7/22 (32%) at 6 months. CIPN was identified in 86% at end of chemotherapy and persisted to 6 months after chemotherapy completion in 73%. Falls or near falls were reported by 12/34 (35%) participants, and were associated with impaired VR balance threshold (P = 0.002).ConclusionsWhile VR balance assessment was no better at identifying CIPN than existing measures, it is a potential surrogate method to assess patients at risk of falls from CIPN.© 2022 The Authors. Internal Medicine Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

19 keywords...

hide…