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Liddicoat Yamarik R, Chiu LA, Flannery M, Van Allen K, Adeyemi O, Cuthel AM, Brody AA, Goldfeld KS, Schrag D, Grudzen CR. Engagement, Advance Care Planning, and Hospice Use in a Telephonic Nurse-Led Palliative Care Program for Persons Living with Advanced Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15082310. [PMID: 37190238 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15082310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Persons living with advanced cancer have intensive symptoms and psychosocial needs that often result in visits to the Emergency Department (ED). We report on program engagement, advance care planning (ACP), and hospice use for a 6-month longitudinal nurse-led, telephonic palliative care intervention for patients with advanced cancer as part of a larger randomized trial. Patients 50 years and older with metastatic solid tumors were recruited from 18 EDs and randomized to receive nursing calls focused on ACP, symptom management, and care coordination or specialty outpatient palliative care (ClinicialTrials.gov: NCT03325985). One hundred and five (50%) graduated from the 6-month program, 54 (26%) died or enrolled in hospice, 40 (19%) were lost to follow-up, and 19 (9%) withdrew prior to program completion. In a Cox proportional hazard regression, withdrawn subjects were more likely to be white and have a low symptom burden compared to those who did not withdraw. Two hundred eighteen persons living with advanced cancer were enrolled in the nursing arm, and 182 of those (83%) completed some ACP. Of the subjects who died, 43/54 (80%) enrolled in hospice. Our program demonstrated high rates of engagement, ACP, and hospice enrollment. Enrolling subjects with a high symptom burden may result in even greater program engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laraine Ann Chiu
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Mara Flannery
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Van Allen
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Oluwaseun Adeyemi
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Allison M Cuthel
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Abraham A Brody
- Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY 10010, USA
- Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Keith S Goldfeld
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Deborah Schrag
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Kazazian K, Bogach J, Johnston W, Ng D, Swallow CJ. Challenges in virtual collection of patient-reported data: a prospective cohort study conducted in COVID-19 era. Support Care Cancer 2022; 30:7535-7544. [PMID: 35670865 PMCID: PMC9171486 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-022-07191-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, patients attending ambulatory clinics at cancer centers in Ontario completed the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) at each visit. At our center, completion was via touchpad, with assistance from clinic volunteers. As of March 2020, clinic appointments were conducted virtually when possible and touch pads removed. We anticipated a negative impact on the collection of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and the recognition of severe symptoms. METHODS We performed a prospective cross-sectional cohort study to investigate remote ESAS completion by patients with appointments at a weekly surgical oncology clinic. Patients in the initial study cohort were asked to complete and return the ESAS virtually (V). Given low completion rates, the ensuing cohort was asked to complete a hard-copy (HC) ESAS. For the final cohort, we provided remote, personal mentorship by a member of the care team to support virtual electronic ESAS completion (virtual-mentored (VM) cohort). RESULTS Between May and July 2020, a total of 174 patient encounters were included in the study. For the V cohort, 20/46 patients (44%) successfully completed and returned the electronic ESAS, compared to 49/50 (98%) for the HC cohort. For the VM cohort, the overall completion rate was 74% (58/78); however, 12 of these 58 patients did not independently complete a virtual ESAS. Virtual questionnaire completion was not predicted by age, sex, or tumor site, although patients who completed the ESAS were more likely to be in active management rather than surveillance (p = 0.04). Of all completed forms, 42% revealed a depression score of ≥2, and 27% an anxiety score of ≥4. CONCLUSIONS We identified significant barriers to the virtual completion of ESAS forms, with a lack of predictive variables. The severe degree of psychological distress reported by ~50% of respondents demonstrates the need for ongoing regular collection/review of these data. Innovative solutions are required to overcome barriers to the virtual collection of PROs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karineh Kazazian
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.,Division of General Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jessica Bogach
- Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Wendy Johnston
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.,Division of General Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Canada.,Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Canada
| | - Deanna Ng
- Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Canada
| | - Carol J Swallow
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada. .,Division of General Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Canada. .,Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. .,Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Canada.
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Qiao EM, Qian AS, Nalawade V, Voora RS, Kotha NV, Vitzthum LK, Murphy JD. Evaluating High-Dimensional Machine Learning Models to Predict Hospital Mortality Among Older Patients With Cancer. JCO Clin Cancer Inform 2022; 6:e2100186. [PMID: 35671416 DOI: 10.1200/cci.21.00186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Older hospitalized cancer patients face high risks of hospital mortality. Improved risk stratification could help identify high-risk patients who may benefit from future interventions, although we lack validated tools to predict in-hospital mortality for patients with cancer. We evaluated the ability of a high-dimensional machine learning prediction model to predict inpatient mortality and compared the performance of this model to existing prediction indices. METHODS We identified patients with cancer older than 75 years from the National Emergency Department Sample between 2016 and 2018. We constructed a high-dimensional predictive model called Cancer Frailty Assessment Tool (cFAST), which used an extreme gradient boosting algorithm to predict in-hospital mortality. cFAST model inputs included patient demographic, hospital variables, and diagnosis codes. Model performance was assessed with an area under the curve (AUC) from receiver operating characteristic curves, with an AUC of 1.0 indicating perfect prediction. We compared model performance to existing indices including the Modified 5-Item Frailty Index, Charlson comorbidity index, and Hospital Frailty Risk Score. RESULTS We identified 2,723,330 weighted emergency department visits among older patients with cancer, of whom 144,653 (5.3%) died in the hospital. Our cFAST model included 240 features and demonstrated an AUC of 0.92. Comparator models including the Modified 5-Item Frailty Index, Charlson comorbidity index, and Hospital Frailty Risk Score achieved AUCs of 0.58, 0.62, and 0.71, respectively. Predictive features of the cFAST model included acute conditions (respiratory failure and shock), chronic conditions (lipidemia and hypertension), patient demographics (age and sex), and cancer and treatment characteristics (metastasis and palliative care). CONCLUSION High-dimensional machine learning models enabled accurate prediction of in-hospital mortality among older patients with cancer, outperforming existing prediction indices. These models show promise in identifying patients at risk of severe adverse outcomes, although additional validation and research studying clinical implementation of these tools is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edmund M Qiao
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Alexander S Qian
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Vinit Nalawade
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Rohith S Voora
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Nikhil V Kotha
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Lucas K Vitzthum
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - James D Murphy
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
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Schmucker AM, Flannery M, Cho J, Goldfeld KS, Grudzen C. Data from emergency medicine palliative care access (EMPallA): a randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of specialty outpatient versus telephonic palliative care of older adults with advanced illness presenting to the emergency department. BMC Emerg Med 2021; 21:83. [PMID: 34247588 PMCID: PMC8272986 DOI: 10.1186/s12873-021-00478-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Emergency Medicine Palliative Care Access (EMPallA) trial is a large, multicenter, parallel, two-arm randomized controlled trial in emergency department (ED) patients comparing two models of palliative care: nurse-led telephonic case management and specialty, outpatient palliative care. This report aims to: 1) report baseline demographic and quality of life (QOL) data for the EMPallA cohort, 2) identify the association between illness type and baseline QOL while controlling for other factors, and 3) explore baseline relationships between illness type, symptom burden, and loneliness. Methods Patients aged 50+ years with advanced cancer (metastatic solid tumor) or end-stage organ failure (New York Heart Association Class III or IV heart failure, end stage renal disease with glomerular filtration rate < 15 mL/min/m2, or Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Stage III, IV, or oxygen-dependent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease defined as FEV1 < 50%) are eligible for enrollment. Baseline data includes self-reported demographics, QOL measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G), loneliness measured by the Three-Item UCLA Loneliness Scale, and symptom burden measured by the Edmonton Revised Symptom Assessment Scale. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze demographic variables, a linear regression model measured the importance of illness type in predicting QOL, and chi-square tests of independence were used to quantify relationships between illness type, symptom burden, and loneliness. Results Between April 2018 and April 3, 2020, 500 patients were enrolled. On average, end-stage organ failure patients had lower QOL as measured by the FACT-G scale than cancer patients with an estimated difference of 9.6 points (95% CI: 5.9, 13.3), and patients with multiple conditions had a further reduction of 7.4 points (95% CI: 2.4, 12.5), when adjusting for age, education level, race, sex, immigrant status, presence of a caregiver, and hospital setting. Symptom burden and loneliness were greater in end-stage organ failure than in cancer. Conclusions The EMPallA trial is enrolling a diverse sample of ED patients. Differences by illness type in QOL, symptom burden, and loneliness demonstrate how distinct disease trajectories manifest in the ED. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT03325985. Registered October 30, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail M Schmucker
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mara Flannery
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine, NYU School of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, 227 E 30th Street, First Floor, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
| | - Jeanne Cho
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine, NYU School of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, 227 E 30th Street, First Floor, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Keith S Goldfeld
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 227 E 30th Street, First Floor, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Corita Grudzen
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine, NYU School of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, 227 E 30th Street, First Floor, New York, NY, 10016, USA.,Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 227 E 30th Street, First Floor, New York, NY, 10016, USA
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Zhang JC, El-Majzoub S, Li M, Ahmed T, Wu J, Lipman ML, Moussaoui G, Looper KJ, Novak M, Rej S, Mucsi I. Could symptom burden predict subsequent healthcare use in patients with end stage kidney disease on hemodialysis care? A prospective, preliminary study. Ren Fail 2021; 42:294-301. [PMID: 32506997 PMCID: PMC7144228 DOI: 10.1080/0886022x.2020.1744449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Context Patients treated with maintenance hemodialysis experience significant symptom burden resulting in impaired quality of life. However, the association of patient reported symptom burden and the risk of healthcare use for patients with end stage kidney disease on hemodialysis has not been fully explored. Objectives To investigate if higher symptom burden, assessed by the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-revised (ESASr), is associated with increased healthcare use in patients with end stage kidney disease on hemodialysis. Methods Prospective, single-center, study of adult patients on HD. Participants completed the ESASr questionnaire at enrollment. Baseline demographic, clinical information as well as healthcare use events during the 12-month following enrollment were extracted from medical records. The association between symptom burden and healthcare use was examined with a multivariable adjusted negative binomial model. Results Mean (SD) age of the 80 participants was 71 (13) years, 56% diabetic, and 70% male. The median (IQR) dialysis vintage was 2 (1–4) years. In multivariable adjusted models, higher global [incident rate ratio (IRR) 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00–1.04, p = .025] and physical symptom burden score [IRR 1.03, CI 1.00–1.05, p = .034], but not emotional symptom burden score [IRR 1.05, CI 1.00–1.10, p = .052] predicted higher subsequent healthcare use. Conclusions Our preliminary evidence suggests that higher symptom burden, assessed by ESASr may predict higher risk of healthcare use amongst patients with end stage kidney disease on hemodialysis. Future studies need to confirm the findings of this preliminary study and to assess the utility of ESASr for systematic symptom screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing C Zhang
- Multi-Organ Transplant Program and Division of Nephrology, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Salam El-Majzoub
- Geri-PARTy Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Jewish General Hospital, Lady-Davis Institute for Medical Research, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Madeline Li
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Tibyan Ahmed
- Multi-Organ Transplant Program and Division of Nephrology, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Joyce Wu
- Geri-PARTy Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Jewish General Hospital, Lady-Davis Institute for Medical Research, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Mark L Lipman
- Department of Nephrology, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada
| | - Ghizlane Moussaoui
- Geri-PARTy Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Jewish General Hospital, Lady-Davis Institute for Medical Research, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Karl J Looper
- Geri-PARTy Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Jewish General Hospital, Lady-Davis Institute for Medical Research, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Marta Novak
- Centre for Mental Health, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Soham Rej
- Geri-PARTy Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Jewish General Hospital, Lady-Davis Institute for Medical Research, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Istvan Mucsi
- Multi-Organ Transplant Program and Division of Nephrology, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Bubis LD, Coburn NG, Sutradhar R, Gupta V, Jeong Y, Davis LE, Mahar AL, Karanicolas PJ. Association Between Preoperative Patient-Reported Symptoms and Postoperative Outcomes in Rectal Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study. J Surg Res 2020; 259:86-96. [PMID: 33279848 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2020.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rectal cancer patients undergoing preoperative radiotherapy experience a significant symptom burden. However, it is unknown whether symptoms during radiotherapy may portend adverse postoperative outcomes and healthcare utilization. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was performed of rectal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant radiotherapy and proctectomy in Ontario from 2007 to 2014. The primary outcome was a complicated postoperative course-a dichotomous variable created as a composite of postoperative mortality, major morbidity, or hospital readmission. Patient-reported Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) scores, collected routinely at outpatient provincial cancer center visits, were linked to administrative healthcare databases. The receiver-operating characteristic analysis was used to compare ESAS scoring approaches and to stratify patients into low versus high symptom score groups. Multivariable regression models were constructed to evaluate associations between preoperative symptom scores and postoperative outcomes. RESULTS 1455 rectal cancer patients underwent sequential radiotherapy and proctectomy during the study period and recorded symptom assessments. Patients with high preoperative symptom scores were significantly more likely to experience a complicated postoperative course (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.23-1.95). High preoperative ESAS scores were also associated with the secondary outcomes of emergency department visits (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.08-1.66) and longer length of stay (IRR 1.23, 95% CI 1.04-1.45). CONCLUSIONS Rectal cancer patients reporting elevated symptom scores during neoadjuvant radiotherapy have increased odds of experiencing a complicated postoperative course. Preoperative patient-reported outcome screening may be a useful tool to identify at-risk patients and to efficiently direct perioperative supportive care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lev D Bubis
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Natalie G Coburn
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Division of General Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Rinku Sutradhar
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Canada; Department of Biostatistics, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Vaibhav Gupta
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Yunni Jeong
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Laura E Davis
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada
| | - Alyson L Mahar
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Paul J Karanicolas
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Division of General Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
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Watt CL, Momoli F, Ansari MT, Sikora L, Bush SH, Hosie A, Kabir M, Rosenberg E, Kanji S, Lawlor PG. The incidence and prevalence of delirium across palliative care settings: A systematic review. Palliat Med 2019; 33:865-877. [PMID: 31184538 PMCID: PMC6691600 DOI: 10.1177/0269216319854944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Delirium is a common and distressing neurocognitive condition that frequently affects patients in palliative care settings and is often underdiagnosed. AIM Expanding on a 2013 review, this systematic review examines the incidence and prevalence of delirium across all palliative care settings. DESIGN This systematic review and meta-analyses were prospectively registered with PROSPERO and included a risk of bias assessment. DATA SOURCES Five electronic databases were examined for primary research studies published between 1980 and 2018. Studies on adult, non-intensive care and non-postoperative populations, either receiving or eligible to receive palliative care, underwent dual reviewer screening and data extraction. Studies using standardized delirium diagnostic criteria or valid assessment tools were included. RESULTS Following initial screening of 2596 records, and full-text screening of 153 papers, 42 studies were included. Patient populations diagnosed with predominantly cancer (n = 34) and mixed diagnoses (n = 8) were represented. Delirium point prevalence estimates were 4%-12% in the community, 9%-57% across hospital palliative care consultative services, and 6%-74% in inpatient palliative care units. The prevalence of delirium prior to death across all palliative care settings (n = 8) was 42%-88%. Pooled point prevalence on admission to inpatient palliative care units was 35% (confidence interval = 0.29-0.40, n = 14). Only one study had an overall low risk of bias. Varying delirium screening and diagnostic practices were used. CONCLUSION Delirium is prevalent across all palliative care settings, with one-third of patients delirious at the time of admission to inpatient palliative care. Study heterogeneity limits meta-analyses and highlights the future need for rigorous studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine L Watt
- 1 Division of Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,2 Division of Palliative Care, Bruyère Continuing Care, Élisabeth Bruyère Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Franco Momoli
- 3 Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,4 Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,5 School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Mohammed T Ansari
- 5 School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Lindsey Sikora
- 6 Health Sciences Library, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Shirley H Bush
- 1 Division of Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,2 Division of Palliative Care, Bruyère Continuing Care, Élisabeth Bruyère Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,3 Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,7 Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Annmarie Hosie
- 8 IMPACCT, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Erin Rosenberg
- 9 Division of Critical Care, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,10 Department of Critical Care, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Salmaan Kanji
- 3 Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,11 Department of Pharmacy, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,12 Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Peter G Lawlor
- 1 Division of Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,2 Division of Palliative Care, Bruyère Continuing Care, Élisabeth Bruyère Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,3 Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,7 Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Zhao W, He Z, Li Y, Jia H, Chen M, Gu X, Liu M, Zhang Z, Wu Z, Cheng W. Nomogram-based parameters to predict overall survival in a real-world advanced cancer population undergoing palliative care. BMC Palliat Care 2019; 18:47. [PMID: 31167668 PMCID: PMC6551870 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-019-0432-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Although palliative care has been accepted throughout the cancer trajectory, accurate survival prediction for advanced cancer patients is still a challenge. The aim of this study is to identify pre-palliative care predictors and develop a prognostic nomogram for overall survival (OS) in mixed advanced cancer patients. Methods A total of 378 consecutive advanced cancer patients were retrospectively recruited from July 2013 to October 2015 in one palliative care unit in China. Twenty-three clinical and laboratory characters were collected for analysis. Prognostic factors were identified to construct a nomogram in a training cohort (n = 247) and validated in a testing cohort (n = 131) from the setting. Results The median survival time was 48.0 (95% CI: 38.1–57.9) days for the training cohort and 52.0 (95% CI: 34.6–69.3) days for the validation cohort. Among pre-palliative care factors, sex, age, tumor stage, Karnofsky performance status, neutrophil count, hemoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase, albumin, uric acid, and cystatin-C were identified as independent prognostic factors for OS. Based on the 10 factors, an easily obtained nomogram predicting 90-day probability of mortality was developed. The predictive nomogram had good discrimination and calibration, with a high C-index of 0.76 (95% CI: 0.73–0.80) in the development set. The strong discriminative ability was externally conformed in the validation cohort with a C-index of 0.75. Conclusions A validated prognostic nomogram has been developed to quantify the risk of mortality for advanced cancer patients undergoing palliative care. This tool may be useful in optimizing therapeutic approaches and preparing for clinical courses individually. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12904-019-0432-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Zhao
- Department of Integrated Therapy, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiyong He
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Anesthesiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Yintao Li
- Department of Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Huixun Jia
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Menglei Chen
- Department of Integrated Therapy, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoli Gu
- Department of Integrated Therapy, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Minghui Liu
- Department of Integrated Therapy, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Department of Integrated Therapy, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenyu Wu
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety and Collaborative Innovation Center of Social Risks Governance in Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Wenwu Cheng
- Department of Integrated Therapy, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China. .,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Merchant SJ, Brogly SB, Booth CM, Goldie C, Nanji S, Patel SV, Lajkosz K, Baxter NN. Palliative Care and Symptom Burden in the Last Year of Life: A Population-Based Study of Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 2019; 26:2336-2345. [PMID: 30969388 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-019-07320-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The symptom profile in cancer patients and the association between palliative care (PC) and symptoms has not been studied in the general population. We addressed these gaps in gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients in the final year of life. METHODS Patients dying of esophageal, gastric, colon, and anorectal cancers during 2003-2015 were identified. Symptom scores were recorded in the year before death using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), which includes scores from 0 to 10 in nine domains. Symptom severity was categorized as none-mild (≤ 3) or moderate-severe (≥ 4-10). Adjusted associations between outpatient PC and moderate-severe ESAS scores were determined, and the effect of PC initiation on ESAS scores was estimated. RESULTS The cohort included 11,242 patients who died (esophageal [17%], gastric [20%], colon [38%], and anorectal [26%] cancers). Fifty percent experienced moderate-severe scores in tiredness, lack of well-being, and lack of appetite earlier (weeks 18 to 12 before death), whereas 50% experienced moderate-severe scores in drowsiness, pain, and shortness of breath later (weeks 5 to 2 before death) in the disease course. Outpatient PC was associated with an increased likelihood of moderate-severe scores in all domains, with the highest score in pain (odds ratio [OR] 1.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.68-2.05). In PC-naïve patients with moderate-severe scores, initiation of outpatient PC was associated with a 1- to 3-point decrease in subsequent scores, with the greatest reductions in pain (OR - 1.91, 95% CI - 2.11 to - 1.70) and nausea (OR - 3.01, 95% CI - 3.31 to - 2.71). CONCLUSION GI cancer patients experience high symptom burden in the final year of life. Outpatient PC initiation is associated with a decrease in symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaila J Merchant
- Department of Surgery, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada. .,Division of General Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, ON, Canada.
| | - Susan B Brogly
- Department of Surgery, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Christopher M Booth
- Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Craig Goldie
- Division of Palliative Care, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Sulaiman Nanji
- Department of Surgery, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.,Division of General Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Sunil V Patel
- Department of Surgery, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.,Division of General Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Katherine Lajkosz
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Nancy N Baxter
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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10
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Hui D. Benzodiazepines for agitation in patients with delirium: selecting the right patient, right time, and right indication. Curr Opin Support Palliat Care 2018; 12:489-494. [PMID: 30239384 PMCID: PMC6261485 DOI: 10.1097/spc.0000000000000395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To provide an evidence-based synopsis on the role of benzodiazepines in patients with agitated delirium. RECENT FINDINGS Existing evidence supports the use of benzodiazepines in two specific delirium settings: persistent agitation in patients with terminal delirium and delirium tremens. In the setting of terminal delirium, the goal of care is to maximize comfort, recognizing that patients are unlikely to recover from their delirium. A recent randomized trial suggests that lorazepam in combination with haloperidol as rescue medication was more effective than haloperidol alone for the management of persistent restlessness/agitation in patients with terminal delirium. In patients with refractory agitation, benzodiazepines may be administered as scheduled doses or continuous infusion for palliative sedation. Benzodiazepines also have an established role in management of delirium secondary to alcohol withdrawal. Outside of these two care settings, the role of benzodiazepine remains investigational and clinicians should exercise great caution because of the risks of precipitating or worsening delirium and over-sedation. SUMMARY Benzodiazepines are powerful medications associated with considerable risks and benefits. Clinicians may prescribe benzodiazepines skillfully by selecting the right medication at the right dose for the right indication to the right patient at the right time.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Hui
- Department of Palliative Care, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
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11
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Kang B, Kim YJ, Suh SW, Son KL, Ahn GS, Park HY. Delirium and its consequences in the specialized palliative care unit: Validation of the Korean version of Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale. Psychooncology 2018; 28:160-166. [DOI: 10.1002/pon.4926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Beodeul Kang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Center; Yonsei University College of Medicine; Seoul South Korea
| | - Yu Jung Kim
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine; Seoul National University Bundang Hospital; Seongnam South Korea
| | - Seung Wan Suh
- Department of Psychiatry; Seoul National University Bundang Hospital; Seongnam South Korea
| | - Kyung-Lak Son
- Department of Psychiatry; Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital; Goyang South Korea
| | - Grace S. Ahn
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine; Seoul National University Bundang Hospital; Seongnam South Korea
| | - Hye Youn Park
- Department of Psychiatry; Seoul National University Bundang Hospital; Seongnam South Korea
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12
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Bush SH, Lawlor PG, Ryan K, Centeno C, Lucchesi M, Kanji S, Siddiqi N, Morandi A, Davis DHJ, Laurent M, Schofield N, Barallat E, Ripamonti CI. Delirium in adult cancer patients: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines. Ann Oncol 2018; 29:iv143-iv165. [PMID: 29992308 DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdy147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- S H Bush
- Division of Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa
- Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa
- Bruyère Continuing Care, Ottawa, Canada
| | - P G Lawlor
- Division of Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa
- Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa
- Bruyère Continuing Care, Ottawa, Canada
| | - K Ryan
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin
- St Francis Hospice, Dublin
- School of Medicine, University College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - C Centeno
- Department of Palliative Medicine, University of Navarra Hospital, Pamplona
- Palliative Medicine Group, Oncology Area, Navarra Institute for Health Research IdiSNA, Pamplona
- ATLANTES Research Program, Institute for Culture and Society (ICS), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - M Lucchesi
- Division of Thoracic Oncology, Cardio-Thoracic Department, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - S Kanji
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa
- Department of Pharmacy, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada
| | - N Siddiqi
- Department of Health Sciences, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York
- Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford, UK
| | - A Morandi
- Department of Rehabilitation, Aged Care Unit, Ancelle Hospital, Cremona, Italy
| | - D H J Davis
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at University College London, London, UK
| | - M Laurent
- Internal Medicine and Geriatric Department, APHP, Henri-Mondor Hospital, Créteil
- University Paris Est (UPE), UPEC A-TVB DHU, CEpiA (Clinical Epidemiology and Aging) Unit EA 7376, Créteil, France
| | | | - E Barallat
- Faculty of Nursing, Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - C I Ripamonti
- Department of Onco-Haematology Fondazione IRCCS, Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
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13
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Prognostic evaluation in palliative care: final results from a prospective cohort study. Support Care Cancer 2018; 27:2095-2102. [DOI: 10.1007/s00520-018-4463-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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14
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Hausner D, Kevork N, Pope A, Hannon B, Bryson J, Lau J, Rodin G, Le LW, Zimmermann C. Factors associated with discharge disposition on an acute palliative care unit. Support Care Cancer 2018; 26:3951-3958. [PMID: 29850945 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-018-4274-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Acute palliative care units (APCUs) admit patients with cancer for symptom control, transition to community palliative care units or hospice (CPCU/H), or end-of-life care. Prognostication early in the course of admission is crucial for decision-making. We retrospectively evaluated factors associated with patients' discharge disposition on an APCU in a cancer center. METHODS We evaluated demographic, administrative, and clinical data for all patients admitted to the APCU in 2015. Clinical data included cancer diagnosis, delirium screening, and Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) symptoms. An ESAS sub-score composed of fatigue, drowsiness, shortness of breath, and appetite (FDSA) was also investigated. Factors associated with patients' discharge disposition (home, CPCU/H, died on APCU) were identified using three-level multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS Among 280 patients, the median age was 65.5 and median length of stay was 10 days; 155 (55.4%) were admitted for symptom control, 65 (23.2%) for transition to CPCU/H, and 60 (21.4%) for terminal care. Discharge dispositions were as follows: 156 (55.7%) died, 63 (22.5%) returned home, and 61 (21.8%) were transferred to CPCU/H. On multivariable analysis, patients who died were less likely to be older (OR 0.97, p = 0.01), or to be admitted for symptom control (OR 0.06, p < 0.0001), and more likely to have a higher FDSA score 21-40 (OR 3.02, p = 0.004). Patients discharged to CPCU/H were less likely to have been admitted for symptom control (OR 0.06, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION Age, reason for admission, and the FDSA symptom cluster on admission are variables that can inform clinicians about probable discharge disposition on an APCU.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Hausner
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 610 University Ave., 16-712, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada
| | - Nanor Kevork
- Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 610 University Ave., 16-712, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada
| | - Ashley Pope
- Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 610 University Ave., 16-712, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada
| | - Breffni Hannon
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 610 University Ave., 16-712, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada
| | - John Bryson
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 610 University Ave., 16-712, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada
| | - Jenny Lau
- Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 610 University Ave., 16-712, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada.,Division of Palliative Care, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Gary Rodin
- Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 610 University Ave., 16-712, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Princess Margaret Cancer Research Institute, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Lisa W Le
- Department of Biostatistics, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Camilla Zimmermann
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. .,Department of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 610 University Ave., 16-712, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada. .,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. .,Princess Margaret Cancer Research Institute, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.
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15
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Lavdaniti M, Fradelos EC, Troxoutsou K, Zioga E, Mitsi D, Alikari V, Zyga S. Symptoms in Advanced Cancer Patients in a Greek Hospital: a Descriptive Study. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2018; 19:1047-1052. [PMID: 29699055 PMCID: PMC6031771 DOI: 10.22034/apjcp.2018.19.4.1047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Advanced cancer patients experience several physical or psychological symptoms which require palliative care for alleviation. Purpose: To assess the prevalence and intensity of symptoms among cancer patients receiving palliative care in a Greek hospital and to examine the association between reported symptoms and social clinical and demographic characteristics. Material-methods: This descriptive research was conducted during a six-month period using a convenient sample of 123 advanced cancer patients. All participants were assessed for their symptoms using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) with a questionnaire covering demographic and clinical characteristics. Results: The mean age was 63.8± 10.8 years, with lung and breast (58.5% and 11.4%, respectively) as the most common primary cancer types. The most severe symptoms were fatigue, sleep disturbance, dyspnea, depression and anxiety. Negative correlations were revealed between age and the following symptoms: pain (r = -0.354, p = 0.001), fatigue (r = -0.280, p = 0.002), nausea (r = -0.178, p = 0.049), anorexia (r = -0.188, p = 0.038), dyspnea (r = -0.251, p = 0.005), and depression (r = -0.223, p = 0.013). Advanced breast cancer patients scored higher in pain, fatigue and dyspnea compared to those with other cancers. Conclusions: Hospitalized cancer patients in Greece experience several symptoms during the last months of their life. These are influenced by demographic characteristics. Appropriate interventions are strongly advised with appropriate recognition and evaluation of symptoms by health professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lavdaniti
- Research Laboratory “Care in Adult Cancer Patients”, Department of Nursing, Alexander Technological Educational Institute, Thessaloniki, Sparta, Greece.
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16
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Nieder C, Kämpe TA, Pawinski A, Dalhaug A. Patient-reported symptoms before palliative radiotherapy predict survival differences. Strahlenther Onkol 2018; 194:533-538. [PMID: 29344766 DOI: 10.1007/s00066-018-1259-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Widely used prognostic scores, e. g., for brain or bone metastases, are based on disease- and patient-related factors such as extent of metastases, age and performance status, which were available in the databases used to develop the scores. Few groups were able to include patient-reported symptoms. In our department, all patients were assessed with the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS, a one-sheet questionnaire addressing 11 major symptoms and wellbeing on a numeric scale of 0-10) at the time of treatment planning since 2012. Therefore, we analyzed the prognostic impact of baseline ESAS symptom severity. METHODS Retrospective review of 102 patients treated with palliative radiotherapy (PRT) between 2012 and 2015. All ESAS items were dichotomized (below/above median). Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors for survival. RESULTS The most common tumor types were prostate, breast and non-small cell lung cancer, predominantly with distant metastases. Median survival was 6 months. Multivariate analysis resulted in six significant prognostic factors. These were ESAS pain while not moving (median 3), ESAS appetite (median 5), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, pleural effusion/metastases, intravenous antibiotics at start or within 2 weeks before PRT and no systemic cancer treatment. CONCLUSIONS Stronger pain while not moving and reduced appetite (below/above median) predicted significantly shorter survival. Development of new prognostic scores should include patient-reported symptoms and other innovative parameters because they were more important than primary tumor type, age and other traditional baseline parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Nieder
- Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordland Hospital Trust, 8092, Bodø, Norway. .,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT-The Artic University of Norway, 9038, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Thomas A Kämpe
- Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordland Hospital Trust, 8092, Bodø, Norway
| | - Adam Pawinski
- Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordland Hospital Trust, 8092, Bodø, Norway
| | - Astrid Dalhaug
- Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordland Hospital Trust, 8092, Bodø, Norway.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT-The Artic University of Norway, 9038, Tromsø, Norway
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17
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McGee SF, Zhang T, Jonker H, Laurie SA, Goss G, Nicholas G, Albaimani K, Wheatley-Price P. The Impact of Baseline Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale Scores on Treatment and Survival in Patients With Advanced Non-small-cell Lung Cancer. Clin Lung Cancer 2017; 19:e91-e99. [PMID: 28666762 DOI: 10.1016/j.cllc.2017.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Revised: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Palliative systemic therapy is frequently underutilized in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), for many reasons. The aim of this study was to identify patient-reported factors that may predict for treatment decisions and survival in advanced NSCLC, using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS), which is a self-reported questionnaire that quantifies symptom burden by asking patients to rate the severity of 9 common symptoms. PATIENTS AND METHODS With ethics approval, we analyzed ESAS scores at initial oncology consultation for 461 patients with advanced NSCLC seen at The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre from 2009 to 2012. Subgroup analysis was performed to determine if treatment strategies or overall survival (OS) were related to the total symptom burden, as defined by the sum of the individual ESAS symptom scores. RESULTS The severity of the ESAS total symptom burden score was positively correlated with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (R = 0.48; P < .0001). Furthermore, patients with a higher symptom burden were less likely to receive systemic chemotherapy than those with fewer symptoms (43% vs. 66%; P < .0001), and had a significantly reduced OS (5.5 vs. 9.9 months; P < .0001). A higher ESAS symptom burden score was also associated with reduced OS by univariate analysis (hazard ratio, 1.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.45-2.18; P < .0001), although multivariate analysis showed only a trend towards significance (hazard ratio, 1.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.99-1.62; P = .06). CONCLUSIONS Overall, this demonstrates a novel role for the ESAS as a prognostic tool that could complement existing patient assessment models, such as Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, in the development of optimal treatment plans and estimation of survival, in patients with advanced lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon F McGee
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tinghua Zhang
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hannah Jonker
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Scott A Laurie
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Glen Goss
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Garth Nicholas
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Khalid Albaimani
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paul Wheatley-Price
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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18
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Agar MR, Quinn SJ, Crawford GB, Ritchie CS, Phillips JL, Collier A, Currow DC. Predictors of Mortality for Delirium in Palliative Care. J Palliat Med 2016; 19:1205-1209. [PMID: 27309842 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2015.0416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Delirium has a high mortality rate. Understanding predictors of prognosis in patients with delirium will aid treatment decisions and communication. This study aimed to explore variables associated with death during an established episode of delirium in palliative care when haloperidol treatment had been commenced. METHODS A consecutive cohort of palliative care patients, from 14 centers across four countries, is reported. The outcome of interest was death within 14 days from commencement of haloperidol treatment for delirium. Clinicodemographic variables explored were delirium severity, age, gender, primary life limiting illness, body mass index (BMI), total daily haloperidol dose at baseline (mg), functional status, and comorbidities. RESULTS One hundred and sixteen palliative care patients where vital status was known were included in the analysis; 45% (n = 52) died within 10 days, and 56% (n = 65) died within 14 days. In multivariate analyses no clinical or demographic variables predicted death, apart from lower BMI in noncancer patients. CONCLUSION This study has shown a very high mortality rate within two weeks of commencing haloperidol for delirium in palliative care, with no clear clinical predictors for those with a higher chance of dying. Having a higher BMI offered some benefit in survival, but only in noncancer patients. When delirium occurs in advanced illness, discussion should be initiated about the gravity of the clinical situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meera R Agar
- 1 Discipline of Palliative and Supportive Services, Flinders University , Adelaide, South Australia.,2 South West Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales , Sydney Australia .,3 Centre for Cardiovascular and Chronic Care, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney , Ultimo, Australia .,4 Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research , Sydney, Australia
| | - Stephen J Quinn
- 5 Flinders Clinical Effectiveness, Flinders University , Adelaide, Australia
| | - Gregory B Crawford
- 6 Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide , Adelaide, Australia .,7 Northern Adelaide Local Health Network , Adelaide, Australia
| | - Christine S Ritchie
- 8 Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of California San Francisco , San Francisco, California.,9 The Jewish Home of San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Jane L Phillips
- 3 Centre for Cardiovascular and Chronic Care, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney , Ultimo, Australia
| | - Aileen Collier
- 1 Discipline of Palliative and Supportive Services, Flinders University , Adelaide, South Australia
| | - David C Currow
- 1 Discipline of Palliative and Supportive Services, Flinders University , Adelaide, South Australia.,5 Flinders Clinical Effectiveness, Flinders University , Adelaide, Australia
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19
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LeBlanc TW, Abernethy AP, Casarett DJ. What is different about patients with hematologic malignancies? A retrospective cohort study of cancer patients referred to a hospice research network. J Pain Symptom Manage 2015; 49:505-12. [PMID: 25116911 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2014.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2014] [Revised: 07/16/2014] [Accepted: 07/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Although much is known about solid tumor patients who use hospice, the hematologic malignancies hospice population is inadequately described. OBJECTIVES To compare the characteristics and outcomes of hospice patients with hematologic malignancies to those with solid tumors. METHODS We extracted electronic patient data (2008-2012) from a large hospice network (Coalition of Hospices Organized to Investigate Comparative Effectiveness) and used bivariate analyses to describe between-group differences. RESULTS In total, 48,147 patients with cancer were admitted during the study period; 3518 (7.3%) had a hematologic malignancy. These patients had significantly worse Palliative Performance Scale scores (32% vs. 24% were below 40; P < 0.001) and shorter lengths of stay (median 11 vs. 19 days; P < 0.001). They were more likely to die within 24 hours of hospice enrollment (10.9% vs. 6.8%; odds ratio [OR] 1.66; 95% CI 1.49, 1.86; P < 0.001) or within seven days (36% vs. 25.1%; OR 1.68; 95% CI 1.56, 1.81; P < 0.001) and were more likely to receive hospice services in an inpatient or nursing home setting (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.16, 1.56 and OR 1.54; 95% CI 1.39, 1.72; both P < 0.001). Among hematologic malignancy patients, those with leukemia had the shortest survival (hazard ratio 1.23; 95% CI 1.13, 1.34; P < 0.001), and 40.3% used hospice for less than seven days (OR 1.31; 95% CI 1.11, 1.56; P = 0.002). CONCLUSION Hospice patients with hematologic malignancies are more seriously ill at the time of admission, with worse functional status and shorter lengths of stay than other cancer patients. Differences in outcomes suggest the need for targeted interventions to optimize hospice services for the hematologic malignancies population, especially those with leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W LeBlanc
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Center for Learning Health Care, Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
| | - Amy P Abernethy
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Center for Learning Health Care, Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - David J Casarett
- University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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20
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Shin SH, Hui D, Chisholm G, Kang JH, Allo J, Williams J, Bruera E. Frequency and Outcome of Neuroleptic Rotation in the Management of Delirium in Patients with Advanced Cancer. Cancer Res Treat 2014; 47:399-405. [PMID: 25648094 PMCID: PMC4506099 DOI: 10.4143/crt.2013.229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2013] [Accepted: 05/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The response to haloperidol as a first-line neuroleptic and the pattern of neuroleptic rotation after haloperidol failure have not been well defined in palliative care. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of haloperidol as a first-line neuroleptic and the predictors associated with the need to rotate to a second neuroleptic. Materials and Methods We conducted a retrospective review of the charts of advanced cancer patients admitted to our acute palliative care unit between January 2012 and March 2013. Inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of delirium and first-line treatment with haloperidol. Results Among 167 patients with delirium, 128 (77%) received only haloperidol and 39 (23%) received a second neuroleptic. Ninety-one patients (71%) who received haloperidol alone improved and were discharged alive. The median initial haloperidol dose was 5 mg (interquartile ranges [IQR], 3 to 7 mg) and the median duration was 5 days (IQR, 3 to 7 days). The median final haloperidol dose was 6 mg (IQR, 5 to 7 mg). A lack of treatment efficacy was the most common reason for neuroleptic rotation (87%). Significant factors associated with neuroleptic rotation were inpatient mortality (59% vs. 29%, p=0.001), and being Caucasian (87% vs. 62%, p=0.014). Chlorpromazine was administered to 37 patients (95%) who were not treated successfully by haloperidol. The median initial chlorpromazine dose was 150 mg (IQR, 100 to 150 mg) and the median duration was 3 days (IQR, 2 to 6 days). Thirteen patients (33%) showed reduced symptoms after the second neuroleptic. Conclusion Neuroleptic rotation from haloperidol was only required in 23% of patients with delirium and was associated with inpatient mortality and white race.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong Hoon Shin
- Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA ; Department of Internal Medicine, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - David Hui
- Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gary Chisholm
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jung Hun Kang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju, Korea
| | - Julio Allo
- Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Janet Williams
- Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Eduardo Bruera
- Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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21
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Shin SH, Hui D, Chisholm GB, Kwon JH, San-Miguel MT, Allo JA, Yennurajalingam S, Frisbee-Hume SE, Bruera E. Characteristics and outcomes of patients admitted to the acute palliative care unit from the emergency center. J Pain Symptom Manage 2014; 47:1028-34. [PMID: 24246788 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2013] [Revised: 07/16/2013] [Accepted: 07/23/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Most patients admitted to acute palliative care units (APCUs) are transferred from inpatient oncology units. We hypothesized that patients admitted to APCUs from emergency centers (ECs) have symptom burdens and outcomes that differ from those of transferred inpatients. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to compare the symptom burdens and survival rate of patients admitted to an APCU from an EC with those of inpatients transferred to the APCU. METHODS Among the 2568 patients admitted to our APCU between September 1, 2003 and August 31, 2008, 312 (12%) were EC patients. We randomly selected 300 inpatients transferred to the APCU as controls (The outcome data were unavailable for two patients). We retrieved data on patient demographics, cancer diagnosis, Edmonton Symptom Assessment System scores, discharge outcomes, and overall survival from time of admission to the APCU. RESULTS The EC patients had higher rates of pain, fatigue, nausea, and insomnia and were less likely to be delirious. They were more than twice as likely to be discharged alive than transferred inpatients. Kaplan-Meier plot tests for product-limit survival estimate from admission to APCU for EC patients and inpatients were statistically significant (median survival 34 vs. 31 days, P<0.0001). In multivariate analysis, EC admission (odds ratio [OR]=1.8593, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1532-2.9961), dyspnea (OR=0.8533, 95% CI 0.7892-0.9211), well-being (OR=1.1192, 95% CI 1.0234-1.2257), and delirium (OR=0.3942, 95% CI 0.2443-0.6351) were independently associated with being discharged alive. CONCLUSION The EC patients have a higher acute symptom burden and are more likely to be discharged alive than transferred inpatients. The APCU was successful at managing symptoms and facilitating the discharge of both inpatients and EC patients to the community although the patients had severe symptoms on admission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong Hoon Shin
- Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kosin University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - David Hui
- Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Gary B Chisholm
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jung Hye Kwon
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Julio A Allo
- Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Sriram Yennurajalingam
- Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Susan E Frisbee-Hume
- Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Eduardo Bruera
- Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
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22
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Noguera A, Carvajal A, Alonso-Babarro A, Chisholm G, Bruera E, Centeno C. First Spanish version of the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale: psychometric properties, responsiveness, and factor loadings. J Pain Symptom Manage 2014; 47:189-97. [PMID: 23796583 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2012] [Revised: 02/20/2013] [Accepted: 02/25/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT The Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS) is a reliable and validated instrument with which to assess delirium. However, MDAS responsiveness has only been investigated in an indirect way. Also, neurobehavioral and global cognitive factors seem to be the MDAS main factor loads. OBJECTIVES The primary objective of this study was to evaluate MDAS responsiveness and analyze individual factors on this scale. The secondary objective was to confirm concurrent validity and reliability of the Spanish version of the MDAS. METHODS The translation-back translation method was used to obtain the Spanish version of the MDAS. Delirium diagnosis was determined by the clinical Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision criteria and with the Confusion Assessment Method. Responsiveness and factor loadings were determined with the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the MDAS at baseline (0 hours) and at 72 hours. RESULTS Variation in the scores of the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 shows a correlation of r = 0.93, with variation in MDAS scores at P < 0.001. Variation in MMSE scores shows a correlation of r = -0.84, with variation in MDAS scores at P = 0.015. Factor I, neurobehavioral (reduced awareness, reduced attention, perceptual disturbance, delusions, altered psychomotor activity, and sleep-wake cycle disturbance), correlated moderately with the MMSE at -0.56. Factor II, global cognitive (disorientation, short-term memory impairment, impaired digit span, and disorganized thinking), correlated strongly with the MMSE at -0.81. Factor II was significantly more reliable than Factor I, rho = 0.7, P = 0.01. CONCLUSION The high responsiveness confirms the value of the MDAS for ongoing delirium assessment. Two differentiated factor loadings point to a potential future need for MDAS subscales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Noguera
- Hospital Centro de Cuidados Laguna, Madrid, Spain; Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
| | - Ana Carvajal
- Equipo de Soporte Hospitalario y Medicina Paliativa, Clínica Universitaria, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Alberto Alonso-Babarro
- Unidad de Agudos de Cuidados Paliativos, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Universidad Autónoma, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gary Chisholm
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Eduardo Bruera
- Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Carlos Centeno
- Equipo de Soporte Hospitalario y Medicina Paliativa, Clínica Universitaria, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
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Abstract
BACKGROUND In the last 25 years, palliative care has made major progress as an interdisciplinary specialty that addresses quality-of-life issues for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families. Research by numerous investigators has contributed to our increasing body of knowledge to support an evidence-based practice. AIM We highlight some lessons learned by our group in the process of conducting palliative care research, focusing in particular on symptom assessment; the management of pain, fatigue, cachexia, dyspnea, delirium, and opioid-induced neurotoxicity; and outcomes of our palliative care program. DESIGN Narrative review of selected literature, focusing on studies conducted by our group. DATA SOURCES This article is based on the Second Vittorio Ventafridda Memorial Lecture by Dr Eduardo Bruera, delivered at the European Association for Palliative Care, Trondheim, Norway on 8 June 2012. RESULTS For each topic, we review some of the pivotal studies in palliative care, discuss the challenges in research design, and outline possible directions for future research. CONCLUSIONS We conclude by sharing some of what we learned about the processes, pearls, and pitfalls of palliative care research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Bruera
- Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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Al-Zahrani AS, El-Kashif AT, Mohammad AA, Elsamany S, Alsirafy SA. Prediction of In-Hospital Mortality of Patients With Advanced Cancer Using the Chuang Prognostic Score. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2012; 30:707-11. [DOI: 10.1177/1049909112467362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The prediction of in-hospital mortality may help in improving end-of-life care for patients dying of cancer. The Chuang Prognostic Score (CPS) was developed to predict survival of terminally ill patients with cancer. The CPS was assessed in 61 hospitalized adult patients with advanced cancer. Using a CPS cutoff point of ≥6, in-hospital mortality was predicted with 71% positive predictive value, 91% negative predictive value, 75% sensitivity, 89% specificity, and 85% overall accuracy. The patients were divided according to the CPS score into 3 groups (Group 1: CPS < 3.5, Group 2: CPS ≥ 3.5-<6, and Group 3: CPS ≥ 6) with a median survival of not reached, 118 days, and 16 days, respectively ( P < .001). The CPS may be useful in predicting in-hospital mortality of hospitalized patients with advanced cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amr T. El-Kashif
- Oncology Center, King Abdullah Medical City–Holy Capital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Shereef Elsamany
- Oncology Center, King Abdullah Medical City–Holy Capital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Samy A. Alsirafy
- Palliative Medicine Unit, Kasr Al-Ainy Center of Clinical Oncology & Nuclear Medicine (NEMROCK), Kasr Al-Ainy School of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
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