Taste disorders in younger and older patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy: A preliminary multicenter study

BACKGROUND: The taste disorders encountered by patients undergoing chemotherapy have physiological, psychological and social influences that reduce their quality of life (QoL). The alterations to taste caused by chemotherapy are greatly underestimated despite concerns that approximately 75% of patients undergo chemotherapy treatment. Older patients seem to be more affected by taste changes during chemotherapy than younger patients. The aim of the study was to investigate the changes in taste alterations in people who undergo chemotherapy with age less or equal to 40 years old (YPa group) and in subjects with an age equal to or greater than 70 years old (OPa group). METHODS: This study is part of one multicenter study that has investigated subjects who were undergoing cancer treatment in inpatient and outpatient chemotherapy in two hospitals localized in Campania and Lazio Regions of Italy. The CiTAS Questionnaire was used for assessment. RESULTS: The statistical analysis showed a significant difference between YPa and OPa only for chewing problems (P=0.0133) and for dental prosthesis (P<0.0001). In addition, significant differences between YPa and OPa there were only for general taste alteration (P=0.0476). CONCLUSIONS: The investigation of taste alterations in young and elderly patients undergoing chemotherapy, showed interesting significant differences especially for the general taste alteration CiTAS class, confirming that chemotherapyinduced taste alteration in patients who were ≥70 years old, higher than that in any other age group.