scholarly journals The relationship between pain, analgesics and survival in patients with advanced cancer; a secondary data analysis of the international European palliative care Cancer symptom study.

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 393-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason W Boland ◽  
Victoria Allgar ◽  
Elaine G Boland ◽  
Mike I Bennett ◽  
Stein Kaasa ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Opioids reduce cancer-related pain but an association with shorter survival is variably reported. Aim: To investigate the relationship between pain, analgesics, cancer and survival within the European Palliative Care Cancer Symptom (EPCCS) study to help inform clinical decision making. Methods Secondary analysis of the international prospective, longitudinal EPCCS study which included 1739 adults with advanced, incurable cancer receiving palliative care. In this secondary analysis, for all participants with date of death or last follow up, a multilevel Weibull survival analysis examined whether pain, analgesics, and other relevant variables are associated with time to death. Results Date of death or last follow-up was available for 1404 patients (mean age 65.7 [SD:12.3];men 50%). Secondary analysis of this group showed the mean survival from baseline was 46.5 (SD:1.5) weeks (95% CI:43.6–49.3). Pain was reported by 76%; 60% were taking opioids, 51% non-opioid analgesics and 24% co-analgesics. Opioid-use was associated with decreased survival in the multivariable model (HR = 1.59 (95% CI:1.38–1.84), p < 0.001). An exploratory subgroup analysis of those with C-reactive protein (CRP) measures (n = 219) indicated higher CRP was associated with poorer survival (p = 0.001). In this model, the strength of relationship between survival and opioid-use weakened (p = 0.029). Conclusion Opioid-use and survival were associated; this relationship weakened in a small sensitivity-testing subgroup analysis adjusting for CRP. Thus, the observed relationship between survival and opioid-use may partly be due to tumour-related inflammation. Larger studies, measuring disease activity, are needed to confirm this finding to more accurately judge the benefits and risks of opioids in advanced progressive disease.

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Susan J. Wenze ◽  
Brandon A. Gaudiano ◽  
Lauren M. Weinstock ◽  
Ivan W. Miller

We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a clinical trial to explore the relationship between degree of personality disorder (PD) pathology (i.e., number of subthreshold and threshold PD symptoms) and mood and functioning outcomes in Bipolar I Disorder (BD-I). Ninety-two participants completed baseline mood and functioning assessments and then underwent 4 months of treatment for an index manic, mixed, or depressed phase acute episode. Additional assessments occurred over a 28-month follow-up period. PD pathology did not predict psychosocial functioning or manic symptoms at 4 or 28 months. However, it did predict depressive symptoms at both timepoints, as well as percent time symptomatic. Clusters A and C pathology were most strongly associated with depression. Our findings fit with the literature highlighting the negative repercussions of PD pathology on a range of outcomes in mood disorders. This study builds upon previous research, which has largely focused on major depression and which has primarily taken a categorical approach to examining PD pathology in BD.


2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 629-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Ford ◽  
C. Parker ◽  
J. Salim ◽  
R. Goodman ◽  
S. Logan ◽  
...  

BackgroundChildren with poor mental health often struggle at school. The relationship between childhood psychiatric disorder and exclusion from school has not been frequently studied, but both are associated with poor adult outcomes. We undertook a secondary analysis of the British Child and Adolescent Mental Health Surveys from 2004 and its follow-up in 2007 to explore the relationship between exclusion from school and psychopathology. We predicted poorer mental health among those excluded.MethodPsychopathology was measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, while psychiatric disorder was assessed using the Development and Well-Being Assessment and applying Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (DSM IV) criteria. Exclusion from school and socio-demographic characteristics were reported by parents. Multi-variable regression models were used to examine the impact of individual factors on exclusion from school or psychological distress.ResultsExclusion from school was commoner among boys, secondary school pupils and those living in socio-economically deprived circumstances. Poor general health and learning disability among children and poor parental mental health were also associated with exclusion. There were consistently high levels of psychological distress among those who had experienced exclusion at baseline and follow-up.ConclusionsWe detected a bi-directional association between psychological distress and exclusion. Efforts to identify and support children who struggle with school may therefore prevent both future exclusion and future psychiatric disorder.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Marx ◽  
David R. Skvarc ◽  
Mohammadreza Mohebbi ◽  
Adam J. Walker ◽  
Alcy Meehan ◽  
...  

Background: Cognitive impairment is prevalent and often highly burdensome in people with schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to investigate if mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana Linn.) pericarp extract may be an effective intervention to improve cognitive performance in this population.Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a larger randomized placebo-controlled trial that investigated a 24-weeks intervention of mangosteen pericarp extract supplementation in people diagnosed with schizophrenia. A subset of n = 114 participants with completed cognitive outcomes at follow up were included in this analysis. Using the Cogstate Brief Battery, the following cognitive outcomes were assessed: psychomotor function, attention, visual learning and memory (visual and working). Subgroup analyses investigated whether baseline clinical parameters (baseline cognitive functioning, illness severity and duration, depressive symptoms) moderated the relationship between mangosteen pericarp extract intervention and change in cognitive outcomes.Results: There were no significant between-group changes in any cognitive outcomes assessed. Subgroup analysis based on baseline cognition and clinical characteristics did not reveal any significant between-group difference in change.Conclusions: Mangosteen pericarp extract did not affect cognitive outcomes in people with schizophrenia. Further investigation regarding optimal dosing strategies for mangosteen interventions and the testing of additional cognitive domains may be warranted.Trial Registration:ANZCTR.org.au identifier: ACTRN12616000859482, registered 30 June 3 2016.


2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 232-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam P. Mecca ◽  
Hannah R. Michalak ◽  
Julia W. McDonald ◽  
Emily C. Kemp ◽  
Erika A. Pugh ◽  
...  

Background: We investigated the relationship between sleep disturbance and cognitive decline or clinical conversion in individuals with normal cognition (CN), as well as those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia due to Alzheimer disease (AD-dementia). Methods: Secondary analysis of 1,629 adults between 48 and 91 years of age with up to 24 months of follow-up from the ADNI (Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative), a longitudinal cohort study. Results: Sleep disturbance was not associated with decline in memory, executive function, or global cognition. The presence of sleep disturbance did not significantly increase the risk of diagnostic conversion in CN, early MCI, or late MCI participants. Conclusion: This study investigated the effect of sleep disturbance on cognitive decline using several outcomes and does not support the hypothesis that sleep disturbance predicts subsequent cognitive decline.


Author(s):  
Tiffany Shaw ◽  
Eric Prommer

Delirium is a frequent event in patients with advanced cancer. Untreated delirium affects assessment of symptoms, impairs communication including participation in clinical decision-making. This study used specific diagnostic criteria for delirium and prospectively identified precipitating causes of delirium. The study identified factors associated with reversible and irreversible delirium. Impact of delirium on prognosis was evaluated. This chapter describes the basics of the study, including funding, year study began, year study was published, study location, who was studied, who was excluded, how many patients, study design, study intervention, follow-up, endpoints, results, and criticism and limitations. The chapter briefly reviews other relevant studies and information, gives a summary and discusses implications, and concludes with a relevant clinical case. Topics covered include delirium, neoplasms, palliative care, polypharmacy, risk factors, and therapeutics.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Rana Moustafa Al-Adawi ◽  
Kirti Sathyananda Prabhu ◽  
Derek Stewart ◽  
Cristin Ryan ◽  
Hani Abdelaziz ◽  
...  

While there is some evidence that migration to Western countries increases metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk, there is a lack of data pertaining to migration to the Middle East. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between migration and MetS incidence following 24-months of residency in Qatar and identify possible MetS determinants. Migrants to Qatar employed at Hamad Medical Corporation (the national health service) aged 18–65 years were invited to participate. Baseline and follow-up screening for MetS included HbA1c, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, blood pressure, and waist circumference. MetS-free migrants were rescreened 24-months post-migration, and the World Health Organization STEPwise questionnaire was administered, assessing changes in lifestyle from baseline. Of 1095 migrants contacted, 472 consented to participate, 205 of whom had normal metabolic parameters at baseline; 160 completed follow-up screening. Most participants were males (74.6%, n = 153) and Asian (81.0%, n = 166/205), and two thirds (66.3%, n = 136/205) were nurses. The incidence of new-onset MetS was 17.0% (n = 27/160, 95%CI; 11.0–23.0%), with 81.0% (n = 129/160, 95%CI; 73.8–86.0%) having at least one MetS element 24-months post-residency in Qatar. Male gender was a risk factor for MetS (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3, p = 0.116), as was consuming medication that could induce MetS (AOR = 6.3, p < 0.001). There is merit in further research targeting these groups.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 4085-4085
Author(s):  
Oluwadunni Emiloju ◽  
Djeneba Audrey Djibo ◽  
Jean G Ford

4085 Background: From 2011 to 2016, the incidence and mortality rate of colorectal cancer(CRC) were highest among African Americans(AA), compared to other US racial/ethnic groups. Long-term aspirin use is recommended as a strategy to reduce the risk of CRC. Yet, there is scant information on the chemopreventive effect of aspirin among AA. It is imperative to assess whether the reported chemo-preventive effect also occurs in AA. Our central hypothesis is that aspirin use in AA is associated with a lower incidence of CRC, irrespective of race/ethnicity. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis, using data from AA participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities(ARIC) longitudinal study, who did not have CRC at enrollment, from 1987 to 1998. We extracted demographic, clinical and mortality data to compare the incidence of CRC among participants taking aspirin compared to those who were not taking aspirin, stratified by age, tobacco use, and body mass index. All-cause mortality and CRC mortality will also be assessed, and we will use Cox proportional hazard regression to determine the relationship between aspirin use and CRC incidence, and mortality. Results: At baseline in 1987, 15,026 participants enrolled in the ARIC study, 25% of whom were AA, median age 54(range 44-66), including 46.7% who reported using aspirin. We analyzed follow-up data from 10,960 participants in 1996-1998, 20% of whom were AA, and 56.9% of whom were taking aspirin. Non-AA participants were more likely to report using aspirin at baseline and follow-up, compared to AA, 53% vs 30% and 59% vs 50% respectively. After 10years, the total incidence of CRC in AA participants was 1% compared with 1.1% in non-AA(p = 0.7). There was no difference in CRC incidence by aspirin use among all participants, and when stratified by race(among all participants p = 0.81, amongAA p = 0.68, among non-AA p = 0.94). Conclusions: We found no difference in the incidence of CRC among AA compared to Caucasians, by aspirin use. Investigation of consistency and/or dose of aspirin use by race may provide further insights on the relationship between aspirin use and CRC incidence, comparing AA to Caucasians.


2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. ADDINGTON ◽  
S. VAN MASTRIGT ◽  
D. ADDINGTON

Background. The duration of untreated psychosis has been postulated to be a predictor of clinical outcome in schizophrenia. Although several prospective studies support the relationship, some studies do not. These differences may be due to a number of methodological issues. The objectives of this study are: (i) to address many of the methodological limitations of earlier studies such as variations in sample size and selection, type of treatment provided, differences in measurement of DUP and outcome, and length of follow-up; and (ii) to examine the relationship between DUP and outcome in a prospective longitudinal study.Method. The DUP of 200 consecutive admissions to a first-episode programme was determined. The sample was followed over 2 years and pre-morbid functioning, symptoms, social and cognitive functioning and substance use were assessed longitudinally.Results. Two years after admission to the programme, longer DUP was significantly associated with high levels of positive symptoms and poor social functioning. Independently of other variables, DUP predicted positive symptoms and social functioning at 1 and 2 years.Conclusions. There is evidence that long DUP continues to have an influence on outcome up to 2 years. These results support ongoing efforts for early detection and intervention.


Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hediyeh Baradaran ◽  
Jennifer Majersik ◽  
Scott Mcnally ◽  
Adam de Havenon

Introduction: Arterial stiffness is associated with dementia, however, the relationship between carotid stiffness and parahippocampal volume (PHV) is less established. Decreased PHV is a validated early biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease. Hypothesis: Carotid artery stiffness will be associated with lower PHV on MRI performed over 20 years later in the Atherosclerosis Risk in the Community (ARIC) study. Methods: We included ARIC patients with common carotid stiffness measurements on ultrasound at Visit 1 (1987-1989) and volumetric brain MRI at Visit 5 (2011-2013). The primary outcome is pooled bilateral PHV in mL. Results: We included 664 participants with a mean (SD) age of 75.7 (5.4) at the follow-up MRI (42% female). The mean (SD) PHV was 3.9 (0.6) mL. Carotid stiffness was correlated with lower PHV (R=-0.142, p <0.001) and compliance was correlated with higher PHV (R =0.220, p<0.001) (Table 1). The associations were linear (Figure 1) and significant after adjusting for confounders (Table 2). At the follow-up MRI, 32 patients had an adjudicated diagnosis of dementia and lower PHV than patients without dementia (4.0 vs. 3.4 mL, p<0.001), further validating the significance of PHV in this cohort. Conclusion: Carotid stiffness is associated with decreased PHV when measured 20 years later, further supporting the link between large artery atherosclerosis and cognitive decline.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-214
Author(s):  
Adele Flaherty, MA, PhD Candidate ◽  
Fahmida Hossain, MS, HEC-C, PhD Candidate ◽  
Alexa Vercelli, MA

A growing number of individuals live with an opioid use disorder (OUD). While many go on to recover from such disorders, certainly, there will be individuals in palliative care (PC) at some point who still suffer with OUD. One of the major barriers to PC for individuals recovering and currently suffering from an OUD is the stigma related to having an OUD. Therefore, in the context of PC, it is important to understand the relationship that exists between PC, OUDs, and how stereotypes related to substance use disorders affect patient engagement in PC. For this paper, the focus will be on how stereotypes affect pain management in PC for persons with an OUD. A review of current literature regarding OUDs and pain management indicates a need for care specific to the needs of those in PC who formerly and/or currently suffer from an OUD in order to avoid relapse or worsening of their affliction while still managing their pain. The striking lack of knowledge and resources regarding OUDs and their treatment indicates a need to strengthen/increase resources for physicians to educate on treating OUDs as well as alternatives for pain management. This article presents dignity-enhancing care as a gateway to fairly treat individuals with an OUD and to get rid of the stigma associated with OUD patients.


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