scholarly journals The Association Between Autonomic Dysfunction and Survival in Male Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Preliminary Report

2010 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nada Fadul ◽  
Florian Strasser ◽  
J. Lynn Palmer ◽  
Syed Wamique Yusuf ◽  
Ying Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Autonomic Dysfunction ◽  
Preliminary Report ◽  
Male Patients

The association between autonomic dysfunction and survival in advanced cancer: A preliminary report

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e20534-e20534
Author(s):  
N. A. Fadul ◽  
F. Strasser ◽  
J. L. Palmer ◽  
S. Dalal ◽  
J. Allo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prospective Study ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Autonomic Dysfunction ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Study Entry ◽  
Spearman Correlation ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction ◽  
Social Security Death Index ◽  
Male Patients

e20534 Background: Autonomic nervous system dysfunction (AD) is a common syndrome in patients with advanced cancer. It is associated with decreased survival in several patient populations including diabetes mellitus, heart failure and neurological diseases. Based on this available evidence, we hypothesized that autonomic dysfunction is associated with reduced survival in patients with advanced cancer. The objective of this preliminary study was to test the association between AD as measured by the standardized Ewing test and Heart Variability (HRV) measures and survival in patients with advanced cancer. Methods: We examined the relationship between survival and parameters of AD in male patients with advanced cancer who participated in a prospective study of autonomic dysfunction and hypogonadism. Eligibility criteria were defined based on the prospective study protocol. We collected demographic information, date of study entry and Ewing and HRV scores. Date of death was obtained from the online Social Security Death Index database. We defined survival as the interval between study entry and date of death. A survival analysis was used to test the association between survival (days) and Ewing test (0–5) and measures of heart rate variability (HRV), including time domain (SDNN) and frequency domain (Ultra low, Very low, Low, and High frequency) parameters.A spearman correlation test was also performed. Results: 47 male patients were included in this study. Median age was 59 (20–79) and 63% were caucasians. Autonomic dysfunction (AD), defined as Ewing score >2, was present in 80% (38/47) of the patients. Median Ewing score was 3 (1–5), indicating moderate to severe AD. Spearman correlation for Ewing and SDNN HRV was 0.44 (p=0.002). There was a significant association between abnormal Ewing score and survival (p<0.0001), and abnormal SDNN HRV and survival (p=0.056). Spearman correlation for Ewing score and survival and SDNN HRV and survival were r = -0.27620 (p=0.0602) and r =0.24198 (p= 0.1013) respectively. Conclusions: Autonomic dysfunction is associated with shorter survival in male patients with advanced cancer. Further longitudinal research in a larger cohort is justified based on these findings. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

The impact of hypogonadism and autonomic dysfunction on fatigue, emotional function, and sexual desire in male patients with advanced cancer

Cancer ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 107 (12) ◽  
pp. 2949-2957 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Strasser ◽  
J. Lynn Palmer ◽  
Leslie R. Schover ◽  
S. Wamique Yusuf ◽  
Katherine Pisters ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Autonomic Dysfunction ◽  
Sexual Desire ◽  
Emotional Function ◽  
Male Patients ◽  
The Impact

Women know, and men wish they knew, prognostic information in advanced cancer.

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9037-9037
Author(s):  
Kalen M Fletcher ◽  
Holly Gwen Prigerson ◽  
Paul K Maciejewski
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Prognostic Information ◽  
Female Patients ◽  
Life Expectancy Estimate ◽  
Male Patients ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

9037 Background: Little is known about gender differences in advanced cancer patient communication with oncologists. The few studies conducted have explored differences in preferences for prognostic disclosure. Our data allow us to test for gender differences in actual rates of audio-recorded, patient and oncologist reported, prognostic disclosures. We studied a group of advanced cancer patients to determine whether gender disparities exist in: a.) reported rates of prognostic disclosures from physicians and b.) willingness to estimate (versus not) one’s prognosis (i.e., amount of time left to live). Among patients who report never receiving a prognosis from their physician, we also tested for gender difference in wishing that this had been discussed. Methods: Coping with Cancer II is an NCI -funded multi-site, prospective longitudinal study of advanced cancer patients. Patients were interviewed after receiving scan results and asked if they have received a prognosis from their oncologist either at their most recent visit or at any time in the course of their disease. They are also asked if they would be willing to estimate their prognosis. Patients who state that they have not received a prognosis are asked if they wish that they had. Results: Among the advanced cancer patients studied (N=51; men=23, women=28), male cancer patients were significantly more likely to state never receiving a prognosis from their physician than female patients (OR=3.5; χ2=4.49, df=1, p=0.034). Male cancer patients were also significantly less willing to provide a life-expectancy estimate (OR=5.6; χ2=5.06, df=1, p=0.025). Among patients who stated never receiving a prognosis (N=27; men=16, women=11), male patients tended to be more likely than female patients to wish that their prognosis had been discussed (OR=7.8; χ2=3.11, df=1, p=0.078). Conclusions: Male advanced cancer patients are less likely than female cancer patients to state that they have received prognostic information and less willing to provide a life-expectancy estimate. Although male patients receive less open prognostic disclosure than female patients, male patients tend to be more likely than female patients to want prognostic information.

scholarly journals Self-Reported Constipation in Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Preliminary Report

2013 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wadih Rhondali ◽  
Linh Nguyen ◽  
Lynn Palmer ◽  
Duck-Hee Kang ◽  
David Hui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Preliminary Report

Patient-Controlled Methylphenidate for the Management of Fatigue in Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Preliminary Report

2003 ◽  
Vol 21 (23) ◽  
pp. 4439-4443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Bruera ◽  
Larry Driver ◽  
Elizabeth A. Barnes ◽  
Jie Willey ◽  
Loren Shen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Functional Assessment ◽  
Open Study ◽  
Preliminary Report ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Cancer Related Fatigue ◽  
Chronic Illness Therapy ◽  
Multiple Symptoms

Purpose: To assess the effects of patient-controlled methylphenidate for cancer-related fatigue. Patients and Methods: In this prospective open study, 31 patients with advanced cancer and fatigue who scored ≥ 4 on a scale of 0 to 10 received methylphenidate 5 mg by mouth every 2 hours as needed for 7 days (maximum, 20 mg/d). Multiple symptoms were assessed daily; the primary end point, fatigue, was measured using the 0 to 10 scale, and the Functional Assessment for Chronic Illness Therapy–Fatigue (FACIT-F) was performed at baseline, day 7, and day 28. Results: The following mean (± standard deviation) scores for 30 assessable patients improved significantly between baseline and day 7: fatigue (0 to 10 scale), 7.2 ± 1.6 v 3.0 ± 1.9 (P < .001); overall well-being (0 to 10 scale), 4.5 ± 2.2 v 2.8 ± 2.1 (P < .001); fatigue (FACIT-F) subscore, 17.5 ± 11.3 v 34.7 ± 10.0 (P < .001); functional well-being, 14.4 ± 5.9 v 18.3 ± 6.6 (P < .001); and physical well-being, 13.5 ± 6.4 v 21.4 ± 5.0 (P < .001). Anxiety, appetite, pain, nausea, depression, and drowsiness all improved significantly (P < .05). All patients took afternoon or evening doses, and 28 patients (93%) took three or more doses daily. All patients chose to continue taking methylphenidate after 7 days of treatment. No serious side effects were reported. Conclusion: These preliminary results suggest that patient-controlled methylphenidate administration rapidly improved fatigue and other symptoms. Randomized controlled trials are justified.

scholarly journals Chronic nausea and anorexia in advanced cancer patients: A possible role for autonomic dysfunction

1987 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Bruera ◽  
Zolly Catz ◽  
Richard Hooper ◽  
Brian Lentle ◽  
Neil MacDonald
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Autonomic Dysfunction ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Chronic Nausea
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