Abstract PD4-06: Acupressure for persistent fatigue in breast cancer survivors
Authors: Zick SM , Wyatt GK , Murphy SL , Arnedt JT , Sen A , Harris RE 
Published: May 2016

Background: Persistent fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom in breast cancer survivors (BCS), yet treatments remain limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of two types of self-administered acupressure on fatigue versus usual care in BCS.

Methods: This was a 10-week randomized trial that enrolled adult female BCS (stage 0-III), who had completed cancer treatments at least 12 months previously and who reported persistent mild-moderate fatigue (≥ 4 on the Brief Fatigue Inventory [BFI]). BCS were randomized equally into relaxation acupressure (RA), stimulating acupressure (SA) or usual care (UC). The primary endpoint was change in BFI from baseline to week 6 when acupressure was stopped and at week 10 to assess carryover effects of acupressure. Secondary analyses were conducted on sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and 14-day sleep diaries; quality of life was assessed with the Long-Term Quality of Life in BCS (LTQL). Intent-to-treat analyses were conducted using linear mixed models.

Results: 288 BCS were randomized (98 RA, 94 SA, and 96 UC). 228 BCS completed the 6-week visit and 223 the 10-week visit (71 RA, 69 SA, and 83 UC). There were no significant group differences on baseline sociodemographic, clinical characteristics, BFI, PSQI, sleep diary parameters, or LTQL. At week 6 the mean change in BFI from baseline was significantly lower in the RA and SA arms than UC (RA = -2.57 ± 1.5, SA = -1.98 ± 1.5, and UC = -1.07 ± 1.6; p &lt; 0.001 for both RA and SA vs. UC), but there was no significant difference between acupressure arms (p = 0.29). At week 10 the mean change in BFI from baseline ± SD was maintained and continued to be lower in RA and SA arms than UC (RA = -2.27 ± 1.4, SA = -1.96 ± 1.5, and UC = -0.99 ± 1.5; p &lt; 0.001 for both RA and SA vs. UC), but no significant difference between acupressure arms (p &gt;0.99). At week 6 the mean change in PSQI from baseline mean ± SD for RA = -1.93 ± 3.3 was significantly different from UC = -0.46 ± 3.1 (p = 0.03) but not SA = -1.34 ± 3.2 (p = 0.96). At week10 there was no significant difference on the PSQI between arms (RA vs. UC, p = 0.40; SA vs. UC, p &lt;= .99; RA vs. SA, p = 0.79); however PSQI scores remained lower and stable in the RA arm. There were no significant differences between the three arms at any time point for the sleep diary parameters sleep efficiency, total sleep time, sleep onset latency, or wake after sleep onset. Women in the RA arm were significantly improved versus UC for three of four quality of life subscales at both 6- and 10-week visits (somatic, p=0.03week 6, p=0.04 week 10; physical fitness, p=0.04 week 6, p=0.01 week 10; and social support, p=0.03 week 6, p=0.04 week 10; spirituality, p=0.55 week 6, p=0.17 week 10). The SA group was not significantly different from UC for any subscale at any time point.

Conclusions: Both acupressure arms significantly reduced fatigue compared to UC, but only RA had a significant effect on improving sleep quality and quality of life in BCS. Improvements in fatigue, sleep, and quality of life continued to persist for 4 weeks after cessation of acupressure. Self-administered RA offers an inexpensive easy to learn method to manage fatigue, sleep quality and overall quality of life in BCS with persistent fatigue.

Citation Format: Zick SM, Wyatt GK, Murphy SL, Arnedt JT, Sen A, Harris RE. Acupressure for persistent fatigue in breast cancer survivors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PD4-06.