Laura B Oswald, Aasha I Hoogland, Taylor L Welniak, Oanh L Nguyen, Yvelise Rodriguez, Xiaoyin Li, Samantha Reese, Paige W Lake, Brian D Gonzalez, Martine Extermann, Jonathan Metts, Matthew A Murphy, Brent J Small, Donna L Berry, Daneng Li, Kristen M Carpenter, Stacy M Fischer, Anita Y Kinney, Heather S L Jim
Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) are among the most distressing side effects of cancer therapy. Younger age is a risk factor for CINV, and cancer incidence is rising among young adults (YAs) ages 18-39. However, the comparative burden of CINV in YAs versus non-YAs remains insufficiently understood. This study compared acute and delayed CINV between YAs and non-YAs (i.e., ages ≥40) after the first infusion of moderately- or highly-emetogenic chemotherapy. Of 1,609 participants, 159 (10%) were YAs. Rates of guideline-consistent antiemetic prophylactic care were similar between groups (65% YAs, 71% non-YAs; p = 0.11). Despite this, acute nausea was more prevalent (69% vs. 40%, p < 0.001) and severe (M = 3.9, SD = 2.6 vs. M = 3.0, SD = 2.3 on 0-10 scale, p < 0.001) among YAs vs. non-YAs. Similarly, delayed nausea was more prevalent (85% vs. 69%, p < 0.001) and severe (M = 4.5, SD = 2.4 vs. M = 3.7, SD = 2.5, p < 0.001) among YAs. Findings may inform clinical approaches to managing CINV among YAs.