Frequency and clinical implications of delayed nausea and delayed emesis

Abstract

Studies of the adverse effects of cancer chemotherapy often do not distinguish between delayed and persistent nausea and emesis. Although persistent nausea is simply acute nausea that continues beyond the treatment day, postchemotherapy delayed nausea and delayed vomiting first develop after an initial 24 h free of these symptoms. To access its occurrence in clinical practice, we conducted a structured examination of chemotherapy-induced delayed nausea and emesis in consecutive chemotherapy patients unselected for diagnosis, chemotherapy, or antiemetic usage. Three hundred twenty-seven consecutive with histologically confirmed cancer were followed through three consecutive chemotherapy treatments at three geographically separate institutions. Patient-reported assessments of nausea and emesis were made for each 6-h period over 3 days after chemotherapy. One in three patients developed delayed nausea and one in four incurred delayed emesis. Of >950 chemotherapy treatments assessed, approximately 1 in 6 were characterized by delayed nausea and 1 in 9 by delayed vomiting. We conclude that nausea and emesis that first begin >24 h after chemotherapy are a significant clinical concern. Patients receiving cancer chemotherapy without being admitted to the hospital should be informed of the possible occurrence of delayed nausea and vomiting and be given adequate and appropriate antiemetic medication for use at home for the prevention of these delayed side effects.