Influence of transcatheter arterial embolization on symptom distress and fatigue in liver cancer patients

Table 1 General characteristics of liver cancer patients

Characteristics	Values
Gender (male/female)	75/25
Age (yr)	64.3 ± 4.5
Education level (primary or below/high school or vocational/university or above)	19/37/44
Occupation (yes/no)	71/29
Marital status (single/married)	19/81
Presence of family support (no/yes)	8/92
No. of embolization procedures (1/2/3/4 or more)	19/19/18/44
Tumor size (cm)	4.9 ± 1.8
Embolization agent volume (mL)	7.6 ± 2.5
Performance status (PST) (0/1/2)	63/32/5
Biochemical results on day 1 post-TAE
AST (U/L)	288.5 ± 24.1
ALT (U/L)	206.8 ± 19.7
Total bilirubin (μmol/L)	26.7 ± 4.2
Cortisol (nmol/L)	491.8 ± 98.1
Biochemical results on day 3 post-TAE
AST (U/L)	126.4 ± 10.8
ALT (U/L)	162.3 ± 19.5
Total bilirubin (μmol/L)	26.6 ± 3.4
Cortisol (nmol/L)	487.9 ± 54.3

Physical functional status refers to the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status Scale. 0: Fully active, able to carry on all pre-disease performance without restriction; 1: Restricted in physically strenuous activity but ambulatory and able to carry out work of a light or sedentary nature, e.g., light housework or office work; 2: Ambulatory and capable of all self-care but unable to carry out any work activities. Up and about more than 50% of waking hours; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; TAE: Transcatheter arterial embolization.