Age, cancer site and gender associations with symptoms and problems in specialised palliative care: a large, nationwide, register-based study

2019 ◽  
pp. bmjspcare-2019-001880 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maiken Bang Hansen ◽  
Lone Ross ◽  
Morten Aagaard Petersen ◽  
Mogens Groenvold
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Physical Function ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Cancer Site ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
And Gender

BackgroundPatients referred to specialised palliative care are troubled by symptoms/problems, but more knowledge is needed on the level and frequency of symptoms/problems. It is also uncertain how gender, age and cancer diagnosis, respectively, are associated with symptoms/problems.AimsTo describe symptoms/problems in patients with cancer at the start of specialised palliative care, and to study how age, gender and cancer diagnosis were associated with symptoms/problems.DesignA register-based study including data from the Danish Palliative Care Database.Setting/ParticipantsPatients with cancer who reported their symptoms/problems using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionaire-Core-15-Palliative Care (EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL) at the start of specialised palliative care were included. Ordinal logistic regression was performed to test if gender, age and cancer diagnosis were associated with each symptom/problem.Results31 771 patients with cancer were included in the study. The most prevalent and severe symptoms/problems were pain, appetite loss, fatigue, poor physical function and poor quality of life. Gender, age and cancer diagnosis were significantly associated with most symptoms/problems. The strongest associations between symptoms/problems and gender and age, respectively, were increased risk of nausea in women, as well as increased risk of poor physical function and reduced risk of sleeplessness and pain with increasing age. Patients with brain/central nervous system cancer had the lowest risk of symptoms but the highest risk of poor physical function.ConclusionAt the start of specialised palliative care, patients with cancer experience severe levels of symptoms, poor physical function and poor quality of life. Age, gender and diagnosis were significantly associated with most symptoms/problems, but the strength and direction of the associations differed across symptoms/problems.

scholarly journals Glioblastoma Multiforme from Diagnosis to Rehabilitation: a Prospective, Hospital- Based, Case Study of Inpatient Reported Symptoms, Physiotherapy and Functional Improvement

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 3785-3788
Author(s):  
Parvez Inamdar ◽  
◽  
Sameer Shaikh ◽  
Darshita Fatnani ◽  
Sejal Sathe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Glioblastoma Multiforme ◽  
Activities Of Daily Living ◽  
Physical Function ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Functional Improvement ◽  
Patients With Cancer

A physiotherapist treats patients with Glioblastoma multiforme. Glioblastoma multiforme treatment includes chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, which are being continuously developed and thus increase the survival of patients with a cancer diagnosis. More specifically, 5-year survival rates increase with a cancer diagnosis. Patients with Glioblastoma multiforme have many problems including muscle weakness, pulmonary dysfunction, fatigue, and pain. In the end, patients with cancer tend to have a decline in activities of daily living (ADL) and quality of life (QOL). Additionally, patients often have progressive disease, depression, and anxiety. Physiotherapy often helps patients regain strength and physical function and improve their QOL and independence of daily living that they may have lost due to its treatment. Physiotherapy has an important role in increasing the physical function of Glioblastoma multiforme patients. In the future, physiotherapy may be progressively needed for the management of Glioblastoma multiforme patients. KEYWORDS: Glioblastoma multiforme, Activities of daily living, Quality of Life, Physiotherapy.

scholarly journals Effects and moderators of exercise on quality of life and physical function in patients with cancer: An individual patient data meta-analysis of 34 RCTs

2017 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 91-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurien M. Buffart ◽  
Joeri Kalter ◽  
Maike G. Sweegers ◽  
Kerry S. Courneya ◽  
Robert U. Newton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Physical Function ◽  
Individual Patient Data ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Patient Data ◽  
Patients With Cancer

Palliative care of cancer survivors

2015 ◽  
pp. 661-670
Author(s):  
Mary S. McCabe ◽  
Stacie Corcoran
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Childhood Cancer ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Childhood Cancer Survivors ◽  
The Family ◽  
Heavy Burden ◽  
Optimal Quality

Being told you are cancer-free does not mean you are free of the consequences of the disease. Seventy-six percent of cancer survivors are over age 60 years and have coexisting medical conditions that complicate posttreatment recovery to maximum health. Childhood cancer survivors also carry a heavy burden of medical and psychological problems resulting from their experience with cancer. Cancer diagnosis and treatment affects the family as well as the patient. Improvements are needed in the coordination of care for cancer survivors to assure optimal quality of life.

scholarly journals Perceptions of Continued Smoking and Smoking Cessation Among Patients With Cancer

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. e269-e279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Devon Alton ◽  
Lawson Eng ◽  
Lin Lu ◽  
Yuyao Song ◽  
Jie Su ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Smoking History ◽  
Smoking Cessation Counseling ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Never Smokers ◽  
Multivariable Regression Models

Purpose: Continued smoking after a cancer diagnosis leads to poorer treatment outcomes, survival, and quality of life. We evaluated the perceptions of the effects of continued smoking on quality of life, survival, and fatigue among patients with cancer after a cancer diagnosis and the effects of these perceptions on smoking cessation. Patients and Methods: Patients with cancer from all disease subsites from Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (Toronto, Ontario) were surveyed between April 2014 and May 2016 for sociodemographic variables, smoking history, and perceptions of continued smoking on quality of life, survival, and fatigue. Multivariable regression models evaluated the association between patients’ perceptions and smoking cessation and the factors influencing patients’ perceptions of smoking. Results: Among 1,121 patients, 277 (23%) were smoking cigarettes up to 1 year before diagnosis, and 54% subsequently quit; 23% had lung cancer, and 27% had head and neck cancers. The majority felt that continued smoking after a cancer diagnosis negatively affected quality of life (83%), survival (86%), and fatigue (82%). Current smokers during the peridiagnosis period were less likely to perceive that continued smoking was harmful when compared with ex-smokers and never-smokers ( P < .01). Among current smokers, perceiving that smoking negatively affected quality of life (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.68 [95% CI, 1.26 to 5.72]; P = .011), survival (aOR, 5.00 [95% CI, 2.19 to 11.43]; P < .001), and fatigue (aOR, 3.57 [95% CI, 1.69 to 7.54]; P < .001) were each strongly associated with smoking cessation. Among all patients, those with a greater smoking history were less likely to believe that smoking was harmful in terms of quality of life (aOR, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.98 to 0.99]; P < .001), survival (aOR, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.98 to 0.99]; P < .001), and fatigue (aOR, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.98 to 0.99]; P < .001). Conclusion: The perceptions of continued smoking after a cancer diagnosis among patients with cancer are strongly associated with smoking cessation. Counseling about the harms of continued smoking in patients with cancer, and in particular among those who have lower risk perceptions, should be considered when developing a smoking cessation program.

Pulmonary lymphangitis and cancer: Prospective series of 37 patients in palliative care

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 18600-18600 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. Dettino ◽  
E. M. Negri ◽  
T. Pagano
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Primary Tumors ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
The Moment ◽  
In The Beginning ◽  
Minor Criteria

18600 Background: Lymphangitis of the lungs is an uncommon type of metastasis, mainly in breast, lung and gastric cancers, and has major impact in quality of life and an unfavorable prognosis. Survival is very poor: 50% in 3 and 15% in 6 months. Our objective was to evaluate prospectively quality of life in cancer patients with pulmonary lymphangitis, under palliative care. Methods: Patients with pulmonary lymphangitis, diagnosed either by lung biopsy (major criteria) or 3 minor criteria (cyto or histotologically proven cancer, clinical picture and image exam) were followed in 3 tertiary services, in a cohort series study. Primary end point was quality of life (QoL), measured with questionnaires in the beginning of the study and monthly afterwards (Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire -SGRQ- and Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey -SF36). Clinical and complementary aspects were also followed, in addition to treatment and outcome. Results: Thirty-seven patients were included from Aug/2004 to Jan/2006 - 23 female and 14 male; age from 41 to 84 (mean: 62) years. Primary tumors were: lung (20), breast (11), esophagus (2), pancreas, rectum and bone. Of those patients, 33 were able to respond QoL questionnaires in the beginning of follow-up and monthly thereafter. Median follow-up was of one month (range: 0–13); at the moment, 9 patients are still alive. Median survival was 2.5 months (range: 0,1–33), with 38% with a survival of at least 6 months. In general, QoL was poor, but improved after palliative care. Notice that values get higher as QoL improves in SF-36; however, they get lower as QoL improves in SGRQ - values were 61.5, 50.5, 61.7, and 47.5% for SGRQ and 38.1, 32.1, 32.8, 61.6 for SF36 in 0, 1, 3 and 6 months, respectively. Palliative care included: corticosteroids (65%), oxygen (51%), opioids (51%), diuretics (47%), inhalations with beta2-agonists and/or ipatropium (57%), chemo and/or hormonotherapy (51%), physical therapy (43%), antidepressants and benzodiazepines (37% each), thoracocentesis (35%), and blood transfusions. Conclusions: Even though QoL is poor and survival is short for patients with cancer lymphangitis in lungs, some improvement is possible with active palliative care. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

scholarly journals Psychological impact of cancer diagnosis among gynaecological cancer subjects in a tertiary care centre

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ranjini Nanjaiah ◽  
Mudassir A. Khan ◽  
Vadiraja N. Rao
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Psychiatric Morbidity ◽  
Gynaecological Cancer ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Increased Risk

Background: The survival rate of cancer patients has improved and focus has shifted to improve the quality of life of the survivors. An adequate knowledge is required for psychosocial interventions and designing programs aimed at improving the quality of life of the cancer patients. The purpose of the study is to assess Anxiety and Depression [Psychiatric morbidity] among gynaecological cancer subjects and its association with duration since diagnosis, type of cancer, mode of treatment and socio-demographic variables.Methods: This is an interview based cross sectional study involving 131 patients diagnosed to have gynaecological cancer who were evaluated using hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). The gynaecological and socio-demographic data was analyzed for any correlation with HADS scores.Results: The prevalence of at least one psychiatric disorder was 90% (n=118). Sixty subjects [45.8%] had anxiety, 71 subjects [54%] had depression and 118 cases [90%] had psychiatric morbidity.  Patients suffering for less than three months had anxiety; three to 12 months were both anxious and depressed; more than 12 months were depressed. Young women with less education were more anxious compared to educated women.Conclusions: Given a gynaecological cancer an individual will have 0.9 chance of developing psychiatric morbidity. Young women with less education aware of cancer diagnosis for three to 12 months were at increased risk and needs intervention. As cancer incidence is increasing and psychiatric morbidity is common among cancer patients, training of health care personnel in cancer screening and recognizing patients with common mental disorders is required to improve their quality of life. Creating awareness of public regarding risk factors of cancers, importance of screening and cancer treatment is necessary.

scholarly journals Biosocial and disease conditions affecting the quality of life among older adults in Eastern Nepal

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uday Narayan Yadav ◽  
Tarka Bahadur Thapa ◽  
Sabuj Kanti Mistry ◽  
Saruna Ghimire ◽  
Godfred O. Boateng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Cluster Sampling ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Lower Likelihood

Abstract Background The ageing population in most low-and middle-income countries is accompanied by an increased risk of non-communicable diseases culminating in a poor quality of life. However, the factors accelerating this poor quality of life (QOL) have not been fully examined. Therefore, this study examined the factors influencing the quality of life of Nepali older adults.Methods Data from a previous cross-sectional study, conducted between January and April 2018 in eastern Nepal, was used. The analytical sample included 794 older adults aged ≥60 years, selected by a multi-stage cluster sampling approach. QOL was measured using the Older People’s Quality of Life tool; dichotomized as poor and good QOL. Other measures used included age, gender, ethnicity, religion, marital status, physical activity and chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and depression. The factors associated with quality of life were examined using mixed-effects logistic regression.Results Seven in ten respondents (70.4%) reported a poor quality of life. At the bivariate level, increasing age, unemployment, intake of alcohol, lack of physical activity as well as osteoarthritis, COPD and depression were significantly associated with a lower likelihood of a good quality of life. The adjusted model showed that older age (AOR=0.50, p<0.05), the Christian religion (AOR=0.38, p<0.01), and being from an Indigenous, Dalit, or Madheshi background were associated with a lower likelihood of good quality of life. However, higher income of >Nrs 10,000 (AOR=3.34, p<0.001), daily physical activity (AOR=3.33, p<0.001), and the absence of osteoarthritis and depression were associated with a higher odds ratio of good quality of life.Conclusion The findings of this study echo the need to develop and implement policies aimed at improving the socio-cultural and disease conditions that catalyse poor quality of life in this population.

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