2024 Volume 5 Issue 3 Pages 191-199
Objective: Hand-foot syndrome (HFS), caused by chemotherapy damages the skin on the hands and feet, particularly in areas under external forces. The external forces on the foot relate to foot morphology and footwear size. This study investigated the foot and footwear characteristics associated with severe HFS, to predict severe HFS risk.
Methods: This cohort study investigated the arch index (AI), footwear size, and HFS severity (classified from G1 to G3 based on CTCAE) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with chemotherapy. G2 and above were classified severe group (PG), while non-occurrence of HFS and G1 were classified non-severe group (NG).
Results: The AI was higher in the PG (n=22), 27.1±4.2 compared to 25.2±3.1 in the NG (n=33), although not significantly difference (p=0.07, p=0.11). Hallux valgus prevalence was also higher in the PG (seven patients, 32%)than in the NG (four patients, 12%); however, without statistical significance (p=0.09, p=0.23). Post hoc test showed AI and hallux valgus power were 0.45 and 0.38, respectively.
Conclusions: Larger studies are necessary to conform definitively the association between severe HFS and foot and footwear characteristics.
