Abstract 4397: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and falls in cancer survivors relate to digital balance and gait impairments

Abstract Background and Aim: Standing postural sway and gait tests with body-worn inertial sensors provide a multitude of objective, digital balance, and gait measures that represent several different domains controlling mobility. However, it is not clear which domains of balance or gait best reflect the impact of treatment-induced peripheral neuropathy on mobility or differentiate fall risk in cancer survivors. This study aimed to determine which domains of balance and gait differed between cancer survivors who reported 1) symptoms of peripheral neuropathy versus asymptomatic survivors and 2) falls in the previous six months versus non-fallers. Methods: Both postural sway during 30 seconds of quiet stance and gait characteristics from the Instrumented Time-Up-and-Go test (ITUG) were recorded with six synchronous inertial sensors (Opals by APDM Wearable Technology, a Clario company). The sensors were placed on both shanks and wrists, and one on the lumbar spine and sternum in 425 female cancer survivors (age: 62 ± 6 years). A principal component analysis (PCA) approach was used first to identify independent domains of mobility from 14 balance and gait measures for subsequent analysis. Results: PCA analysis revealed 5 independent domains (PC1: Sway amplitude, PC2: Gait pace; PC3: Sway frequency; PC4: Gait spatial-temporal and PC5: Turning) that accounted for 81% of the variance of performance across the participants. Cancer survivors who reported neuropathy showed a significantly higher sway frequency (PC3) than asymptomatic survivors. Cancer survivors who reported falls showed a significantly larger sway area (PC1) and slower gait pace (PC2) than non-fallers. Conclusions: Wearable sensor instrumentation from short balance and gait tests capture objective digital gait and balance outcomes reflective of treatment-related neuropathy and fall risk in women treated with chemotherapy for cancer. Wearable sensors could be used for oncology clinical trials to assess the impact of cancer treatment and symptom mitigation strategies to limit changes in mobility that might lead to excess falls in people with cancer. Citation Format: Vrutangkumar Shah, Daniel Muzyka, Carolyn Guidarelli, Kristen Sowalsky, Kerri M. Winters-Stone, Fay B. Horak. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and falls in cancer survivors relate to digital balance and gait impairments. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 4397.