How to improve the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting? The French NAVI study

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) still remain frequent. The procedure for announcing the diagnosis (PAD) was an emblematic measure of the first French Plan Cancer aiming at providing patients with time to listen, information after cancer diagnosis, and discussion on treatments and their side effects. We aimed at assessing the risk factors of CINV, focusing on patients' satisfaction with the PAD. This prospective multicentre study assessed the frequency and intensity of CINV among chemona < ve patients during the first cycle of treatment. CINV was defined by a parts per thousand yen1 emetic episode or reported nausea intensity a parts per thousand yen3 on a 0-10 scale. Multivariate analysis was used to identify factors related to global CINV onset including satisfaction with the PAD (satisfaction score a parts per thousand yenthe median on a 0-10 scale). Data from 291 patients (women, 85.2 %; mean age, 57 years) were analyzed. Most patients (69.4 %) received highly emetogenic chemotherapy regimens and 77.7 % received antiemetic drugs consistent with international guidelines. Acute, delayed and overall CINV were experienced by 40.4, 34.8 and 52.4 % of patients, respectively. Sixty-seven per cent of patients were satisfied with the PAD. No relation was noted between PAD satisfaction and CINV onset. The nausea and vomiting dimension of the QLQ-C30 questionnaire before chemotherapy (OR 3.62), motion sickness history (OR 2.73), highly emetogenic CT (OR 2.73), anxiety (OR 1.99) and younger age (OR 1.96) were independent predictive factors. Although patients were mostly satisfied with the PAD, half of them experienced CINV. A state of anxiety could be identified during the PAD to be managed.