Frailty and Fatigue in the Elderly Cancer Patients at Wasit Specialized Oncology Center, Wasit, Iraq

Ammar Abbas Okab; Ahmed Kadhim Jawad; Hussein Aadi Ubaid; Wafaa Mohammed Al-Attar; Ihab Habeb Abbas; Anmar Hadi Abbas; Mohammed Dauda Goni

doi:10.54133/ajms.v11i2.3215

Authors

Ammar Abbas Okab Technical Nursing Department, Technical Institute-Suwaira, Middle Technical University, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7849-0041
Ahmed Kadhim Jawad Technical Nursing Department, Technical Institute-Suwaira, Middle Technical University, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0857-9200
Hussein Aadi Ubaid Department of Kidney Dialysis Techniques, College of Health and Medical Techniques, University of Kut, Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9299-4179
Wafaa Mohammed Al-Attar College of Nursing, Al-Bayan University, Baghdad, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7094-6334
Ihab Habeb Abbas College of Nursing, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1724-2887
Anmar Hadi Abbas College of Nursing, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7269-9461
Mohammed Dauda Goni Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, 16100 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1301-5351

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54133/ajms.v11i2.3215

Keywords:

Cancer Patients, Elderly, Frialty, Fatigue, Iraq, Oncology Center

Abstract

Background: Cancer is a general term for a big group of diseases that affect many systems of the human body. Incessant fatigue was recorded as the most frequent continuing symptom, explained by patients taking cancer drugs. Frailty also causes competing risks of mortality and morbidity independent of cancer and its therapy. Objective: To evaluate the frailty and fatigue status of elderly patients and find out the association between frailty and fatigue among elderly patients with cancer in an oncology center. Methods: A cross-sectional study was accomplished and involved 191 patients who had cancer and received maintenance at Wasit Specialized Oncology Center in Al-Kut, Wasit, Iraq. Data collection was conducted using a non-probability convenience sampling method from February to May 2026. The "Tilburg Frailty Indicator" to determine the frailty status and "Cancer Fatigue Scale" to measure the level of fatigue were used. Results: 78% of the elderly with cancer were frail, with a mean score of 5.88±2.312 and high frailty; 70.2% of the elderly demonstrated moderate fatigue, with a mean score of 40.21±7.198. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between patients’ Tilburg Frailty Indicator and Cancer Fatigue Scale scores (r=0.285, p<0.001), and the strongest positive statistically significant predictors of frailty were educational level and age. Conclusions: Frailty is highly prevalent among elderly patients with cancer and is strongly associated with fatigue. These findings support the need for routine frailty assessment and targeted clinical interventions to improve cancer patient outcomes.

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