Status and related factors of cancer-related fatigue among children with cancer: a cross-sectional study in China

Abstract

Cancer-related fatigue is a common and distressing symptom among children with cancer, with substantial impacts on functioning and quality of life. However, there is limited evidence regarding its status and related factors in pediatric populations in China. A cross-sectional study investigated cancer-related fatigue and related factors among children with cancer using convenience sampling at a tertiary hospital in Changsha, China, between March and May 2025. Among the 82 patients with cancer, the mean fatigue score was 52.61 ± 15.76. Of these, 14 cases (15.6%) were classified as mild fatigue, 28 (31.1%) as moderate fatigue, and 40 (44.4%) as severe fatigue. Further analysis revealed that patient gender, age, pathological type, primary treatment modality, tumor metastasis, monthly household income, caregiver awareness of cancer-related fatigue, anxiety level, and depression level were significantly associated with the level of cancer-related fatigue ( P < 0.05). Pediatric cancer-related fatigue is highly prevalent, primarily manifesting as moderate-to-severe fatigue. In clinical practice, targeted measures should be implemented to comprehensively consider all relevant influencing factors, in order to reduce the fatigue level of the children and improve their quality of life.