Symptom burden and hospital length of stay among patients with curable cancer.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 6579-6579
Author(s):  
Sara D'Arpino ◽  
Areej El-Jawahri ◽  
Samantha M.C. Moran ◽  
Connor Johnson ◽  
Daniel Lage ◽  
...  

6579 Background: Prolonged hospital admissions are often inconsistent with patients’ preferences and incur significant costs. While patients’ symptoms may result in hospitalizations, the relationship between patients’ symptom burden and their hospital length-of-stay (LOS) has not been fully explored in patients with curable cancers. Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients with curable cancer and unplanned hospital admissions between 8/2015 and 12/2016. Within the first 5 days of admission, we assessed patients’ physical (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System [ESAS]; scored 0-10 with higher scores indicating greater symptom burden) and psychological symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire 4 [PHQ-4]; scored categorically and continuous with higher scores indicating greater distress). We created summated ESAS total and physical symptom variables. To assess the relationship between patients’ symptom burden and their hospital LOS, we used separate linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, marital status, education level, time since cancer diagnosis, and cancer type. Results: We enrolled 452 of 497 (91%) approached patients (mean age = 61.9 years; 188 [42%] female). Over half had hematologic cancers (n = 249, 55%). Mean hospital LOS was 8.3 days. Over one-tenth of patients screened positive for PHQ-4 depression (n = 74, 16%) and anxiety (n = 60, 13%) symptoms. Mean ESAS symptom scores were highest for fatigue (6.6), drowsiness (5.4), pain (4.9), and lack of appetite (4.8). In multivariable regression analysis, patients’ physical and psychological symptoms were associated with longer hospital LOS (table). Conclusions: Patients with curable cancer and unplanned hospital admissions experience a substantial symptom burden, which predicts for prolonged hospitalizations. Importantly, patients’ symptoms are modifiable risk factors that, if properly addressed, can improve care delivery and may have the potential to help decrease prolonged hospitalizations. [Table: see text]

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (34_suppl) ◽  
pp. 203-203
Author(s):  
Daniel E Lage ◽  
Areej El-Jawahri ◽  
Charn-Xin Fuh ◽  
Richard Newcomb ◽  
Vicki Jackson ◽  
...  

203 Background: Hospitalized patients with cancer often have impaired ADLs related to age, comorbidities, and both cancer and treatment-related morbidity. However, the relationship between ADL impairment and patients’ symptom burden and clinical outcomes has not been well described. Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients with advanced cancer with unplanned hospitalizations at an academic medical center. Upon admission, nurses assessed patients’ ADLs (mobility, feeding, bathing, dressing, and grooming). We used the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and Patient Health Questionnaire-4 to assess physical and psychological symptoms, comparing symptom burden between patients with and without ADL impairment. We used regression models adjusted for age, sex, education, Charlson comorbidity index, months since advanced cancer diagnosis, and cancer type to assess the relationship between any ADL impairment and hospital length of stay, the composite outcome of death or readmission within 90 days of discharge, and survival. Results: Among 932 patients, 40.2% had at least one ADL impairment. Patients with ADL impairment were older (67.2 vs. 60.8 years, p<0.001), had higher Charlson comorbidity index (1.1 vs. 0.7, p<0.001), and higher physical symptom burden (ESAS Physical 35.2 vs. 30.9, p<0.001). Those with ADL impairment were more likely to have moderate to severe constipation (46.7% vs. 36.0%, p<0.01), pain (74.9% vs. 63.1%, p<0.01), drowsiness (76.6% vs. 68.3%, p<0.01), as well as symptoms of depression (38.3% vs. 23.6%, p<0.01) and anxiety (35.9% vs. 22.4%, p<0.01). In adjusted models, ADL impairment was associated with longer hospital length of stay (B=1.30, p<0.01), higher odds of death or readmission within 90 days (odds ratio=2.26, p<0.01), and worse survival (hazard ratio=1.73, p<0.01). Conclusions: Hospitalized patients with advanced cancer who have ADL impairment experience a significantly higher symptom burden and worse health outcomes compared to those without ADL impairment. These findings highlight the need to assess and address ADL impairment among this population to enhance their quality of life and care.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 747-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel E. Lage ◽  
Areej El-Jawahri ◽  
Charn-Xin Fuh ◽  
Richard A. Newcomb ◽  
Vicki A. Jackson ◽  
...  

Background: National guidelines recommend regular measurement of functional status among patients with cancer, particularly those who are elderly or high-risk, but little is known about how functional status relates to clinical outcomes among hospitalized patients with advanced cancer. The goal of this study was to investigate how functional impairment is associated with symptom burden and healthcare utilization and clinical outcomes. Patients and Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study of patients with advanced cancer with unplanned hospitalizations at Massachusetts General Hospital from September 2014 through March 2016. Upon admission, nurses assessed patients’ activities of daily living (ADLs; mobility, feeding, bathing, dressing, and grooming). Patients with any ADL impairment on admission were classified as having functional impairment. We used the revised Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS-r) and Patient Health Questionnaire-4 to assess physical and psychological symptoms, respectively. Multivariable regression models were used to assess the relationships between functional impairment, hospital length of stay, and survival. Results: Among 971 patients, 390 (40.2%) had functional impairment. Those with functional impairment were older (mean age, 67.18 vs 60.81 years; P<.001) and had a higher physical symptom burden (mean ESAS physical score, 35.29 vs 30.85; P<.001) compared with those with no functional impairment. They were also more likely to report moderate-to-severe pain (74.9% vs 63.1%; P<.001) and symptoms of depression (38.3% vs 23.6%; P<.001) and anxiety (35.9% vs 22.4%; P<.001). Functional impairment was associated with longer hospital length of stay (β = 1.29; P<.001) and worse survival (hazard ratio, 1.73; P<.001). Conclusions: Hospitalized patients with advanced cancer who had functional impairment experienced a significantly higher symptom burden and worse clinical outcomes compared with those without functional impairment. These findings provide evidence supporting the routine assessment of functional status on hospital admission and using this to inform discharge planning, discussions about prognosis, and the development of interventions addressing patients’ symptoms and physical function.


2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (29_suppl) ◽  
pp. 122-122
Author(s):  
Zhi Zhen Xu ◽  
Patricia Neo ◽  
Tan Ying Peh ◽  
Alethea Yee ◽  
Xia Zhu ◽  
...  

122 Background: Advanced cancer patients have a high symptom burden and not infrequently have unplanned hospital admissions. In our institution, PM services are provided via a separate consult team rather than an integrated palliative oncology team. Sometimes, PM doctors join the oncology team as integrated members for a few months each as part of their PM fellowship training program. This study aims to explore the effect of this PM doctor. Methods: Patients admitted under the lung and gastrointestinal (GI) oncology teams from June 2013 to June 2014 were studied as this cohort of patients had a higher symptom burden and were more likely to benefit from PM input. The following information for each month was obtained from the computer system: hospital length of stay, formal referrals for a PM consult, 30-day, 60-day and 90-day mortality, and place of death. 2-sample T test was used to compare outcomes when there was a PM doctor in the oncology team for at least half of the month versus when there was not. Results: See table below. The presence of a PM doctor reduced the monthly percentage of formal referrals for PM consults but did not have clinically significant effects on other outcomes. Conclusions: PM doctors were there to learn oncology rather than provide a PM service. However, a reduction of PM referrals suggests that they were still able to meet some of the PM needs of the patients admitted. A new model of PM service provision whereby a PM healthcare professional is integrated within the oncology team warrants further study. [Table: see text]


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 11554-11554
Author(s):  
Daniel E Lage ◽  
Areej El-Jawahri ◽  
Charn-Xin Fuh ◽  
Richard Newcomb ◽  
Vicki Jackson ◽  
...  

11554 Background: Hospitalized patients with cancer often have impaired function, as measured by activities of daily living (ADLs), related to age, comorbidities, and both cancer and treatment-related morbidity. However, the relationship between functional impairment and patients’ symptom burden and clinical outcomes has not been well described. Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients with advanced cancer with unplanned hospitalizations at an academic medical center. Upon admission, nurses assessed patients’ ADLs (mobility, feeding, bathing, dressing, and grooming). We used the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and Patient Health Questionnaire-4 to assess physical and psychological symptoms, comparing symptom burden between patients with and without ADL impairment. We used regression models adjusted for age, sex, education, Charlson comorbidity index, months since advanced cancer diagnosis, and cancer type to assess the relationship between any ADL impairment on admission and hospital length of stay, the composite outcome of death or readmission within 90 days of discharge, and survival. Results: Among 932 patients, 40.2% had at least one ADL impairment. Patients with ADL impairment were older (Mean = 67.2 vs 60.8 years, p < 0.001), had higher Charlson comorbidity index (Mean = 1.1 vs 0.7, p < 0.001), and higher physical symptom burden (ESAS Physical Mean = 35.2 vs 30.9, p < 0.001). Those with ADL impairment were more likely to have moderate to severe constipation (46.7% vs. 36.0%, p < 0.01), pain (74.9% vs. 63.1%, p < 0.01), drowsiness (76.6% vs. 68.3%, p < 0.01), as well as symptoms of depression (38.3% vs. 23.6%, p < 0.01) and anxiety (35.9% vs. 22.4%, p < 0.01). In adjusted models, ADL impairment was associated with longer hospital length of stay (B = 1.30, p < 0.01), higher odds of death or readmission within 90 days (odds ratio = 2.26, p < 0.01), and higher mortality (hazard ratio = 1.73, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Hospitalized patients with advanced cancer who have functional impairment experience a significantly higher symptom burden and worse health outcomes compared to those without functional impairment. These findings highlight the need to assess and address functional impairment among this population to enhance their quality of life and care.


2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian R. Englum ◽  
Xuan Hui ◽  
Cheryl K. Zogg ◽  
Muhammad Ali Chaudhary ◽  
Cassandra Villegas ◽  
...  

Previous research has demonstrated that nonclinical factors are associated with differences in clinical care, with uninsured patients receiving decreased resource use. Studies on trauma populations have also shown unclear relationships between insurance status and hospital length of stay (LOS), a commonly used metric for evaluating quality of care. The objective of this study is to define the relationship between insurance status and LOS after trauma using the largest available national trauma dataset and controlling for significant confounders. Data from 2007 to 2010 National Trauma Data Bank were used to compare differences in LOS among three insurance groups: privately insured, publically insured, and uninsured trauma patients. Multivariable regression models adjusted for potential confounding due to baseline differences in injury severity and demographic and clinical factors. A total of 884,493 patients met the inclusion criteria. After adjusting for the influence of covariates, uninsured patients had significantly shorter hospital stays (0.3 days) relative to privately insured patients. Publicly insured patients had longer risk-adjusted LOS (0.9 days). Stratified differences in discharge disposition and injury severity significantly altered the relationship between insurance status and LOS. In conclusion, this study elucidates the association between insurance status and hospital LOS, demonstrating that a patient's ability to pay could alter LOS in acute trauma patients. Additional research is needed to examine causes and outcomes from these differences to increase efficiency in the health care system, decrease costs, and shrink disparities in health outcomes.


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9592-9592
Author(s):  
A. H. Kamal ◽  
K. M. Swetz ◽  
H. Liu ◽  
S. R. Ruegg ◽  
E. C. Carey ◽  
...  

9592 Background: Palliative care (PC) is an essential part of the continuum of care for cancer (CA) patients (pts). Little is known about the aggregate characteristics and survival of pts receiving inpatient palliative care consultation (PCC). Methods: We reviewed data prospectively collected on patients seen by the Palliative Care Inpatient Consult Service at Mayo Clinic - Rochester from 2003–2008. Demographics, consult characteristics, and survival were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and a Cox model of survival were produced. Results: 1794 total patients were seen over the five year period. Cancer is the most common primary diagnosis (47%). Growth in annual PCC has risen dramatically (113 in 2003 vs. 414 in 2007) despite stable total hospital admissions. Patient are predominantly men (52% vs. 48%, p=0.02); median age is 76. General medicine, medical cardiology, and medical intensive care unit services refer most often. Most frequent issues addressed are goals of care, dismissal planning, and pain control (29%, 19%, 17%). PCC in actively dying pts have increased with 27% of all non-operating room, non-trauma in-hospital deaths being seen. Although CA pts have the highest median survival after PCC vs. other diagnoses (17 days, p = 0.018), we observed a five-year trend of decreasing survival from admission to death and PCC to death. Median time from admission to death in CA pts is 36 days in 2003 and 19 days in 2008 (p<0.01). Median time from PCC to death is 33 versus 11.5 days (p<0.01). Despite this, median hospital length of stay and time from PCC to discharge have remained fixed at 8 and 2.5 days, respectively. A Cox model of survival to discharge and <6 months survival (hospice eligibility) shows hospital length of stay, time from consult to discharge, and dismissal location from hospital are all prognostic factors. Conclusions: Survival window for PC intervention for CA pts is lessening. With the trend of shorter survival after PCC, PC professionals have little over two days to implement a comprehensive, ongoing care plan. This highlights the importance of earlier outpatient palliative care involvement with advanced cancer patients and families. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (29_suppl) ◽  
pp. 100-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha M.C. Moran ◽  
Areej El-Jawahri ◽  
William F. Pirl ◽  
Lara Traeger ◽  
Pallavi Kumar ◽  
...  

100 Background: Patients with advanced cancer experience high rates of both physical and psychological morbidity, but data describing patients’ symptoms during hospital admissions are lacking. We sought to describe symptom burden in hospitalized patients with incurable solid and hematologic malignancies. Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients with incurable cancers admitted to the Massachusetts General Hospital from 9/1/2014 through 5/1/2015. Within the first week of their admission, we assessed physical and psychological symptoms using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-revised (ESAS-r). Beginning 11/15/2015, we also administered the Patient Health Questionnaire 4 (PHQ-4), scored categorically. Results: We enrolled 457 of 547 (84%) eligible patients. Participants (mean age=63.8 years; n=231, 51% female) had the following malignancies: gastrointestinal (n=149, 33%), lung (n=77, 17%), genitourinary (n=52, 11%), breast (n=33, 7%), hematologic (n=24, 5%), and other solid tumors (n=122, 27%). Using the ESAS-r, tiredness, drowsiness, anorexia, and pain were the most common severe symptoms. Using the PHQ-4, approximately one-third of participants screened positive for depression (91/271, 34%) and anxiety (86/273, 32%). Conclusions: Hospitalized patients with incurable solid and hematologic malignancies experience substantial physical and psychological symptoms. Most patients reported at least moderate tiredness, drowsiness, anorexia and pain. Additionally, a concerning proportion reported depression and anxiety. Our data demonstrate the need for efforts to alleviate the physical symptoms experienced by this population, while also seeking to understand and address their psychological needs. [Table: see text]


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 10123-10123
Author(s):  
Ryan David Nipp ◽  
Areej El-Jawahri ◽  
Samantha M.C. Moran ◽  
Sara D'Arpino ◽  
Connor Johnson ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Ioannis Baltas ◽  
Florencia A T Boshier ◽  
Charlotte A Williams ◽  
Nadua Bayzid ◽  
Marius Cotic ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Post-vaccination infections challenge the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We matched 119 cases of post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infection with BNT162b2 mRNA, or ChAdOx1 nCOV-19, to 476 unvaccinated patients with COVID-19 (Sept 2020-March 2021), according to age and sex. Differences in 60-day all-cause mortality, hospital admission, and hospital length of stay were evaluated. Phylogenetic, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and minority variant allele (MVA) full genome sequencing analysis was performed. Results 116/119 cases developed COVID-19 post first vaccination dose (median 14 days, IQR 9 – 24 days). Overall, 13/119 (10∙9%) cases and 158/476 (33∙2%) controls died (p&lt;0.001), corresponding to 4∙5 number needed to treat (NNT). Multivariably, vaccination was associated with 69∙3% (95%CI 45∙8 – 82∙6) relative risk (RR) reduction in mortality. Similar results were seen in subgroup analysis for patients with infection onset ≥14 days after first vaccination (RR reduction 65∙1%, 95%CI 27∙2 – 83∙2, NNT 4∙5), and across vaccine subgroups (BNT162b2: RR reduction 66%, 95%CI 34∙9 – 82∙2, NNT 4∙7, ChAdOx1: RR reduction 78∙4%, 95%CI 30∙4 – 93∙3, NNT 4∙1). Hospital admissions (OR 0∙80, 95%CI 0∙51 – 1∙28), and length of stay (-1∙89 days, 95%CI -4∙57 – 0∙78) were lower for cases, while Ct values were higher (30∙8 versus 28∙8, p = 0.053). B.1.1.7 was the predominant lineage in cases (100/108, 92.6%) and controls (341/446, 76.5%). Genomic analysis identified one post-vaccination case harboring the E484K vaccine escape mutation (B.1.525 lineage). Conclusions Previous vaccination reduces mortality when B.1.1.7 is the predominant lineage. No significant lineage-specific genomic changes during phylogenetic, SNP and MVA analysis were detected.


CJEM ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (S1) ◽  
pp. S56-S57
Author(s):  
H. Novak Lauscher ◽  
K. Ho ◽  
J. L. Cordeiro ◽  
A. Bhullar ◽  
R. Abu Laban ◽  
...  

Introduction: Patients with Heart failure (HF) experience frequent decompensation necessitating multiple emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. If patients are able to receive timely interventions and optimize self-management, recurrent ED visits may be reduced. In this feasibility study, we piloted the application of home telemonitoring to support the discharge of HF patients from hospital to home. We hypothesized that TEC4Home would decrease ED revisits and hospital admissions and improve patient health outcomes. Methods: Upon discharge from the ED or hospital, patients with HF received a blood pressure cuff, weight scale, pulse oximeter, and a touchscreen tablet. Participants submitted measurements and answered questions on the tablet about their HF symptoms daily for 60 days. Data were reviewed by a monitoring nurse. From November 2016 to July 2017, 69 participants were recruited from Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), St. Pauls Hospital (SPH) and Kelowna General Hospital (KGH). Participants completed pre-surveys at enrollement and post-surveys 30 days after monitoring finished. Administrative data related to ED visits and hospital admissions were reviewed. Interviews were conducted with the monitoring nurses to assess the impact of monitoring on patient health outcomes. Results: A preliminary analysis was conducted on a subsample of participants (n=22) enrolled across all 3 sites by March 31, 2017. At VGH and SPH (n=14), 25% fewer patients required an ED visit in the post-survey reporting compared to pre-survey. During the monitoring period, the monitoring nurse observed seven likely avoided ED admissions due to early intervention. In total, admissions were reduced by 20% and total hospital length of stay reduced by 69%. At KGH (n=8), 43% fewer patients required an ED visit in the post-survey reporting compared to the pre-survey. Hospital admissions were reduced by 20% and total hospital length of stay reduced by 50%. Overall, TEC4Home participants from all sites showed a significant improvement in health-related quality of life and in self-care behaviour pre- to 90 days post-monitoring. A full analysis of the 69 patients will be complete in February 2018. Conclusion: Preliminary findings indicate that home telemonitoring for HF patients can decrease ED revisits and improve patient experience. The length of stay data may also suggest the potential for early discharge of ED patients with home telemonitoring to avoid or reduce hospitalization. A stepped-wedge randomized controlled trial of TEC4Home in 22 BC communities will be conducted in 2018 to generate evidence and scale up the service in urban, regional and rural communities. This work is submitted on behalf of the TEC4Home Healthcare Innovation Community.


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