Prevalence and Predictors of Cisplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy at the Kenyatta National Hospital

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence, predictors, and/or risk factors of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients undergoing chemotherapy with cisplatin at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional analysis of patients who underwent chemotherapy with cisplatin for at least 2 months at Kenyatta National Hospital oncology units. Peripheral neuropathy was determined by history and physical examination per the protocol. Data are presented in tables. Descriptive inferential statistics such as means, medians, and proportions were determined where applicable. RESULTS: We recruited 67 patients who were undergoing chemotherapy with cisplatin. Fifty-six patients (83.6%) had peripheral neuropathy. Forty-five patients (81%) had mild-grade (grades 1 and 2) peripheral neuropathy. Only two patients (3.1%) had grade 4 neuropathy. Almost all patients who were overweight or obese developed peripheral neuropathy. CONCLUSION: Peripheral neuropathy among patients receiving cisplatin is quite prevalent at Kenyatta National Hospital (83.6% prevalence rate). However, most of the patients had a mild grade of neuropathy, which is largely consistent with literature elsewhere.