Survival Prediction in Terminally Ill Cancer Patients by Clinical Estimates, Laboratory Tests, and Self-Rated Anxiety and Depression

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (22) ◽  
pp. 3313-3320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Gripp ◽  
Sibylle Moeller ◽  
Edwin Bölke ◽  
Gerd Schmitt ◽  
Christiane Matuschek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Laboratory Tests ◽  
Performance Status ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Tumor Board ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Survival Prediction

Purpose To study how survival of palliative cancer patients relates to subjective prediction of survival, objective prognostic factors (PFs), and individual psychological coping. Patients and Methods Survival was estimated according to three categories (< 1 month, 1 to 6 months, and > 6 months) by two physicians (A and B) and the institutional tumor board (C) for 216 patients recently referred for palliative radiotherapy. After 6 months, the accuracy of these estimates was assessed. The prognostic relevance of clinical symptoms, performance status, laboratory tests, and self-reported emotional distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) was investigated. Results In 61%, 55%, and 63% of the patients, prognoses were correctly estimated by A, B, and C, respectively. κ statistic showed fair agreement of the estimates, which proved to be overly optimistic. Accuracy of the three estimates did not improve with increasing professional experience. In particular, the survival of 96%, 71%, and 87% of patients who died in less than 1 month was overestimated by A, B, and C, respectively. On univariate analysis, 11 of 27 parameters significantly affected survival, namely performance status, primary cancer, fatigue, dyspnea, use of strong analgesics, brain metastases, leukocytosis, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), depression, and anxiety. On multivariate analysis, colorectal and breast cancer had a favorable prognosis, whereas brain metastases, Karnofsky performance status less than 50%, strong analgesics, dyspnea, LDH, and leukocytosis were associated with a poor prognosis. Conclusion This study revealed that physicians' survival estimates were unreliable, especially in the case of patients near death. Self-reported emotional distress and objective PFs may improve the accuracy of survival estimates.

scholarly journals Emotional Distress in Cancer Patients During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Toquero ◽  
Carmen Blanco Fernández ◽  
María Pilar López Martí ◽  
Berta Hernández Marín ◽  
E. Beatriz Vera Cea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Tumor Type ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Psychological Symptomatology

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused mental health problems worldwide. The psychopathological implications of COVID-19 in cancer patients have rarely been addressed. Considering the increased vulnerability of oncology patients, this issue needs to be addressed to improve the long-term mental health status of these patients.Methods: We conducted a prospective study in outpatients under active cancer treatment during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A semi-structured 24-question survey was designed to measure baseline sociodemographic, psychosocial and COVID-19 exposure characteristics. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to measure psychological symptoms. A descriptive and analytical univariate analysis of the variables studied was performed. We used the Z-score to compare different populations (experimental and historical control cohort).Results: 104 patients were included, the majority of which were women (64.4%), were above 65 years of age (57.7%), had either lung and breast cancer (56.7%), had advanced disease (64%) and were undergoing chemotherapy (63.5%). 51% of them expressed greater fear of cancer than of COVID-19 infection or both.In relation to HADS, 52.8% of emotional distress, 42.3% of anxiety and 58.6% of depression rates were detected. The main factors related with higher rates of psychological symptomatology were history of previous psychotropic drug consumption and the adoption of additional infection prevention measures because they considered themselves at risk of severe COVID-19 infection (p = 0.008; p = 0.003 for emotional distress, p = 0.026; p = 0.004 for anxiety, and p = 0.013; p = 0.008 for depression). Tumor type, stage, oncologic treatment or rescheduling of cancer treatments were not related to higher levels of psychological symptomatology.Comparison of our results with another population of similar characteristics was not significant (Z score = −1.88; p = 0.060).Conclusions: We detected high rates of emotional distress during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic among cancer patients in active treatment (52.8%). This was higher and clinically relevant than observed in a comparable population (42.5%), although not significant. Cancer itself is the main factor of concern for cancer patients, above and beyond the emotional distress generated by COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Analysis of Anxiety and Depression Status in Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy During the COVID-19 Epidemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liping Yang ◽  
Jing Yang ◽  
Jian He ◽  
Yan Zhou ◽  
Yangyang Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Clinical Stage ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Psychological Problems ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Patient Anxiety ◽  
Self Rating ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Depression Status

Background: The 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) had caused a global pandemic and disrupted millions of lives. Cancer patients are a special group at greater risk of contracting viruses. This study aimed to evaluate the anxiety and depression status of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy during the COVID-19 epidemic.Methods: 396 cancer patients who underwent radiotherapy were enrolled in this study. The self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were used to evaluate patient anxiety and depression, respectively. 373 cancer patients completed the questionnaires.Results: During the COVID-19 outbreak, the incidence of anxiety and depression in cancer patients were 34.9 and 33.8%, respectively. Approximately 31.4% of tumor radiotherapy patients had anxiety and depression. Based on univariate analysis, age, work status, education level, and clinical stage were related to anxiety and depression in cancer patients. Based on multiple regression analysis, age and clinical stage were related to anxiety, but only age was related to depression.Conclusions: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cancer patients experienced increased psychological problems. Our results have contributed to a better understanding of these psychological problems in cancer patients and provide a basis for psychological counseling and intervention.

Better Off Dead: Suicidal Thoughts in Cancer Patients

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (29) ◽  
pp. 4725-4730 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Walker ◽  
Rachel A. Waters ◽  
Gordon Murray ◽  
Helen Swanson ◽  
Carina J. Hibberd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Pain Scale ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Clinical Database ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Clinically Significant

Purpose Cancer is associated with an increased risk of suicide and attempted suicide. However, we do not know how many cancer patients have thoughts that they would be better off dead or thoughts of hurting themselves. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of such thoughts in cancer outpatients and which patients are most likely to have them. Patients and Methods A survey of consecutive patients who attended the outpatient clinics of a regional cancer center in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Patients completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), which included Item 9 that asks patients if they have had thoughts of being better off dead or of hurting themselves in some way in the previous 2 weeks. Those who reported having had such thoughts for at least several days in this period were labeled as positive responders. Patients also completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and a pain scale. The participating patients’ cancer diagnoses and treatments were obtained from the cancer center clinical database. Results Data were available on 2,924 patients; 7.8% (229 of 2,924; 95% CI, 6.9% to 8.9%) were positive responders. Clinically significant emotional distress, substantial pain, and—to a lesser extent—older age, were associated with a positive response. There was strong evidence of interactions between these effects, and emotional distress played the most important role. Conclusion A substantial number of cancer outpatients report thoughts that they would be better off dead or thoughts of hurting themselves. Management of emotional distress and pain should be a central aspect of cancer care.

Survival prediction in terminally ill cancer patients by clinical estimates, laboratory and psychometric tests

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 8578-8578
Author(s):  
S. Gripp ◽  
S. Moeller ◽  
R. Willers
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Emotional Disorders ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Performance Status ◽  
Prognostic Models ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Survival Prediction ◽  
Psychometric Tests ◽  
Life Table Analysis ◽  
Table Analysis

8578 Background: To improve general survival estimates in advanced cancer pat. we studied physicians’ clinical estimates, the impact of emotional disorders (anxiety and depression), and laboratory tests in palliative patients. Methods: From 12/03 to 7/04 patients with advanced cancer referred to radiation oncology for palliative treatment were invited to participate in this prospective cohort study. Pat. with adjuvant or curative treatment intent were not considered. The life span was independently estimated by two physicians and the institutional tumor board according to 3 categories (<1, 1–6, and >6 months). Agreement of survival predictions was analyzed with contingency tables and kappa statistics. Primary tumor, metastatic spread, performance status, pain, dyspnoea, weight loss, nausea, fatigue, serum enzymes (AP, LDH), function parameters (creatinine, bilirubin, CRP), and blood count (WBC, RBC) were also studied. Emotional disorders were measured using a validated psychometric self-assessment scale (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS). Life table analysis with log-rank test and stepwise Cox regression analysis with univariate significant variables were performed. Results: 216 pat. were enrolled and followed for at least 6 months. 580 prognoses were obtained. 94% (204) had complete blood tests. HADS questionnaires were completed by 71% (154). Survival was <1 mo in 15% (33), 1–6 mo in 36% (78), and >6 mo in 49% (105).Survival prediction was poor (kappa= 0.33) and consistently too optimistic (test of symmetry, p<0.0001). In life table analysis primary tumor (hazard ratio 2.0), brain metastases, performance status (HR 1.9), dyspnoea (HR 2.0), nausea (HR 2.0), LDH (HR 1.9), WBC (HR 2.1), fatigue, anxiety and depression (HADS) were highly significant (p< 0.0002). Conclusions: Physicians generally overestimated survival of advanced cancer patients emphasizing the need of objective prognostic models. Even short-term survival estimates (< 1 mo.) were unreliable. Combined objective variables may improve survival prediction. Psychometric tests are promising candidates to be incorporated in more accurate prognostic models. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Predictive Factors for the Development of Dyspnea Within 7 Days After Admission Among Terminally Ill Cancer Patients

2021 ◽  
pp. 104990912110288
Author(s):  
Ryo Matsunuma ◽  
Takashi Yamaguchi ◽  
Masanori Mori ◽  
Tomoo Ikari ◽  
Kozue Suzuki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Predictive Factors ◽  
Performance Status ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Terminally Ill ◽  
Primary Lung Cancer ◽  
Poor Performance Status ◽  
Terminally Ill Cancer Patients ◽  
Development Group

Background: Predictive factors for the development of dyspnea have not been reported among terminally ill cancer patients. Objective: This current study aimed to identify the predictive factors attributed to the development of dyspnea within 7 days after admission among patients with cancer. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective observational study on the dying process among patients admitted in inpatient hospices/palliative care units. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those who developed dyspnea (development group) and those who did not (non-development group). To determine independent predictive factors, univariate and multivariate analyses using the logistic regression model were performed. Results: From January 2017 to December 2017, 1159 patients were included in this analysis. Univariate analysis showed that male participants, those with primary lung cancer, ascites, and Karnofsky Performance Status score (KPS) of ≤40, smokers, and benzodiazepine users were significantly higher in the development group. Multivariate analysis revealed that primary lung cancer (odds ratio [OR]: 2.80, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.47-5.31; p = 0.002), KPS score (≤40) (OR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.02-3.31; p = 0.044), and presence of ascites (OR: 2.34, 95% CI: 1.36-4.02; p = 0.002) were independent predictive factors for the development of dyspnea. Conclusions: Lung cancer, poor performance status, and ascites may be predictive factors for the development of dyspnea among terminally ill cancer patients. However, further studies should be performed to validate these findings.

scholarly journals Comorbidity, Functional Impairment, and Emotional Distress: A Coping Mediation Model for Persons With Cancer

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas V Merluzzi ◽  
Errol J Philip ◽  
Brenna Gomer ◽  
Carolyn A Heitzmann Ruhf ◽  
Dahyeon Kim
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Functional Impairment ◽  
Model Comparison ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Life Assessment ◽  
Functional Impairments ◽  
Brief Cope ◽  
Distress Scale ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background Comorbid disease in cancer patients can substantially impact medical care, emotional distress, and mortality. However, there is a paucity of research on how coping may affect the relationship between comorbidity and emotional distress. Purpose The current study investigated whether the relations between comorbidity and emotional distress and between functional impairment and emotional distress were mediated by three types of coping: action planning (AP), support/advice seeking (SAS), and disengagement (DD). Methods Four hundred and eighty-three persons with cancer completed a measure of functional impairment (Sickness Impact Profile), the Checklist of Comorbid Conditions, the Brief COPE, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Quality of Life Assessment for Cancer Survivors (Negative Feelings Scale), and the Distress Screening Schedule (Emotional Distress Scale). The latter three measures were used to form a latent construct representing the outcome, emotional distress. Results Model comparison analysis indicated that the model with DD as a mediator had a better fit than models containing AP and SAS. DD mediated the relationship between functional impairment and emotional distress, so that engaging in DD was associated with greater distress. In addition, comorbidity and functional impairment were directly and positively related to emotional distress, but the relation between comorbidity and distress was not mediated by coping type. Conclusions Both comorbidity and functional impairment may be associated with distress, but disengagement coping only mediated the relation involving functional impairment and was positively associated with distress. Future studies can investigate whether teaching active coping or adaptive coping (e.g., through mindfulness exercises) can decrease distress in cancer patients, despite functional impairments.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety amongst Cancer Patients in a Hospital Setting: A Cross-Sectional Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anish Khalil ◽  
Muhammad Faheem ◽  
Ammad Fahim ◽  
Haran Innocent ◽  
Zainab Mansoor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background. The biomedical care for cancer has not been complemented by psychosocial progressions in cancer care.Objectives. To find the prevalence of anxiety and depression amongst cancer patients in a hospital setting.Design and Setting. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the tertiary care hospitals Shifa International Hospital Islamabad and Nuclear Medicine, Oncology, and Radiotherapy Institute [NORI].Patients and Methods. 300 patients were interviewed from both the outpatient and inpatient department using The Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Scale (AKUADS).Main Outcome Measures. Using a score of 20 and above on the AKUADS, 146 (48.7%) patients were suffering from anxiety and depression.Results. When cross tabulation was done between different factors and the cancer patients with anxiety and depression, the following factors were found out to be significant with associatedpvalue < 0.05: education of the patient, presence of cancer in the family, the severity of pain, and the patient’s awareness of his anxiety and depression. Out of 143 (47.7%) uneducated patients, 85 (59.4%) were depressed, hence making it the highest educational category suffering from depression and anxiety.Conclusion. The prevalence of anxiety and depression amongst cancer patients was high showing that importance should be given to screening and counseling cancer patients for anxiety and depression, to help them cope with cancer as a disease and its impact on their mental wellbeing.Limitations. The frequency of female patients in our research was higher than those of male patients.

Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) accuracy in cancer patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 3921-3926 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Antonietta Annunziata ◽  
Barbara Muzzatti ◽  
Ettore Bidoli ◽  
Cristiana Flaiban ◽  
Francesca Bomben ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Hospital Anxiety

Association of KRAS gene mutations with depression in older metastatic colorectal cancer patients

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (12) ◽  
pp. 2019-2028 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Zhou ◽  
Xiaohui Gu ◽  
Feng Wen ◽  
Jing Chen ◽  
Wen Wei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Metastatic Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Performance Status ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Gene Mutations ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Poor Survival ◽  
Probable Depression

ABSTRACTBackground:Cancer patients with depression or anxiety have poor survival, and the interaction between mental and physical problems in older patients may exacerbate this problem. K-ras oncogene (KRAS) mutation may play a role in the development of psychosocial distress and may be associated with poor survival of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. This study investigated the association between KRAS gene mutations and psychosocial morbidity to explore the possible cancer/psychosis relationship in older mCRC patients.Methods:In this study, 62 newly diagnosed mCRC patients were recruited and completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Demographic data were also collected, and clinicopathological data were retrieved from medical records. KRAS mutations were assessed via PCR analysis of tissue specimens from the patients.Results:The results showed that 28 of the 62 participants (45.2%) had positive screens for possible depression, and 45 of the 62 participants (72.6%) had positive screens for anxiety. The KRAS mutation rate was 40.3% (25/62), and 19 of the 25 patients with KRAS mutations (76.0%) had probable depression, whereas only 24.3% of the patients with wild-type KRAS were probably depressed (p < 0.05). The KRAS mutation was associated with higher HADS depression scores, independent of gender and performance status (p < 0.05), but not with higher HADS anxiety or total scores.Conclusions:KRAS mutations were associated with depression severity and higher rates of probable depression in older mCRC patients. Depression should be assessed and treated as early as possible in older mCRC patients with the KRAS mutation. Further studies are needed to verify our current findings using a larger sample size.

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