Prevalence and estimated trend in chemotherapy use near death from population-based studies on cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 6590-6590
Author(s):  
Pei-Chun Chou ◽  
Chen Hsiu Chen ◽  
Tsang-Wu Liu ◽  
Siew Tzuh Tang

6590 Background: Chemotherapy (CMT) use near death, based on US national guidelines, is an indicator of aggressive treatment and poor quality of end-of-life (EOL) care. US law also decreased Medicare payments for outpatient CMT since 2005-2006. To evaluate the impact of US payment reform and guidelines on CMT use at EOL, we estimated and compared the overall prevalence of CMT use at EOL in the US and other countries as well as before and after 2007 in the US. Methods: Six databases were systematically searched to January 2017 for population-based studies of CMT use at EOL for patients in all cancer groups. Two reviewers independently extracted data.Overall CMT use prevalence was pooled by a random-effects model. Differences in prevalence of CMT use were compared by meta-regression between subgroups (US vs non-US countries; before and after 2007 in the US). Results: We identified 9 and 7 articles from the US and non-US countries, respectively. CMT was provided to 28.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) 26.2%-31.8%], 23.2% [95% CI 21.7%- 24.8%], 10.0% [95% CI 8.5%-11.8%], and 4.5% [95% CI 3.9%- 5.2%] of cancer patients in their last 6, 3, and 1 months as well as 14 days of life, respectively. CMT use in the last 6 months was more common in the US than in non-US countries (32.4% vs. 26.2%, p = 0.015) but similar to that of other countries in the last month (9.3% vs.11.2%, p = 0.179) and last 14 days (4.6% vs.5.6%, p = 0.683) of life. Prevalence of CMT use in the last 14 days of life in the US did not differ significantly before and after 2007 (5.1% vs. 5.2%, p = 0.967). Conclusions: Many cancer patients worldwide receive CMT at EOL, and the prevalence of CMT use in US patients’ last 14 days of life was virtually unchanged over time. Effective interventions should be developed and provided to offset the trend of continuing CMT use at EOL.

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 6294
Author(s):  
Angelos P. Kassianos ◽  
Alexandros Georgiou ◽  
Maria Kyprianidou ◽  
Demetris Lamnisos ◽  
Jeļena Ļubenko ◽  
...  

A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted during the first COVID-19 wave, to examine the impact of COVID-19 on mental health using an anonymous online survey, enrolling 9565 individuals in 78 countries. The current sub-study examined the impact of the pandemic and the associated lockdown measures on the mental health, and protective behaviors of cancer patients in comparison to non-cancer participants. Furthermore, 264 participants from 30 different countries reported being cancer patients. The median age was 51.5 years, 79.9% were female, and 28% had breast cancer. Cancer participants reported higher self-efficacy to follow recommended national guidelines regarding COVID-19 protective behaviors compared to non-cancer participants (p < 0.01). They were less stressed (p < 0.01), more psychologically flexible (p < 0.01), and had higher levels of positive affect compared to non-cancer participants. Amongst cancer participants, the majority (80.3%) reported COVID-19, not their cancer, as their priority during the first wave of the pandemic and females reported higher levels of stress compared to males. In conclusion, cancer participants appeared to have handled the unpredictable nature of the first wave of the pandemic efficiently, with a positive attitude towards an unknown and otherwise frightening situation. Larger, cancer population specific and longitudinal studies are warranted to ensure adequate medical and psychological care for cancer patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 666
Author(s):  
Fahimeh Ramezani Tehrani ◽  
Marzieh Saei Ghare Naz ◽  
Razieh Bidhendi Yarandi ◽  
Samira Behboudi-Gandevani

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the impact of different gestational-diabetes (GDM) diagnostic-criteria on the risk of adverse-maternal-outcomes. The search process encompassed PubMed (Medline), Scopus, and Web of Science databases to retrieve original, population-based studies with the universal GDM screening approach, published in English language and with a focus on adverse-maternal-outcomes up to January 2020. According to GDM diagnostic criteria, the studies were classified into seven groups. A total of 49 population-based studies consisting of 1409018 pregnant women with GDM and 7,667,546 non-GDM counterparts were selected for data analysis and knowledge synthesis. Accordingly, the risk of adverse-maternal-outcomes including primary-cesarean, induction of labor, maternal-hemorrhage, and pregnancy-related-hypertension, overall, regardless of GDM diagnostic-criteria and in all diagnostic-criteria subgroups were significantly higher than non-GDM counterparts. However, in meta-regression, the increased risk was not influenced by the GDM diagnostic-classification and the magnitude of the risks among patients, using the IADPSG criteria-classification as the most strict-criteria, was similar to other criteria. In conclusion, a reduction in the diagnostic-threshold increased the prevalence of GDM, but the risk of adverse-maternal-outcome was not different among those women who were diagnosed through more or less intensive strategies. Our review findings can empower health-care-providers to select the most cost-effective approach for the screening of GDM among pregnant women.


2017 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 827-850 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana C. Mutz ◽  
Eunji Kim

AbstractUsing a population-based survey experiment, this study evaluates the role of in-group favoritism in influencing American attitudes toward international trade. By systematically altering which countries gain or lose from a given trade policy (Americans and/or people in trading partner countries), we vary the role that in-group favoritism should play in influencing preferences.Our results provide evidence of two distinct forms of in-group favoritism. The first, and least surprising, is that Americans value the well-being of other Americans more than that of people outside their own country. Rather than maximize total gains, Americans choose policies that maximize in-group well-being. This tendency is exacerbated by a sense of national superiority; Americans favor their national in-group to a greater extent if they perceive Americans to be more deserving.Second, high levels of perceived intergroup competition lead some Americans to prefer trade policies that benefit the in-group and hurt the out-group over policies that help both their own country and the trading partner country. For a policy to elicit support, it is important not only that the US benefits, but also that the trading partner country loses so that the US achieves a greater relative advantage. We discuss the implications of these findings for understanding bipartisan public opposition to trade.


2006 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 450-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes L. P. Kuijpens ◽  
Maryska L. G. Janssen-Heijnen ◽  
Valery E. P. P. Lemmens ◽  
Harm R. Haak ◽  
A. Caroline Heijckmann ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed M Badheeb ◽  
Mohamed A Badheeb ◽  
Hamdi A Alhakimi

Abstract Background: The aim of this paper is to compare the patterns and determinants of cancer mortality in Najran region before and after the COVID-19 epidemics. The association between cancer mortality and each of age, sex, site of cancer, stage, and the 30-days survival rate after the last dose of chemotherapy were assessed.Materials & Methods: Adult cancer patients who died of cancer in King Khalid Hospital in Najran Saudi Arabia, were included in this retrospective observational study. We compared mortality patterns in a period of 6 months in 2020 (March to August) with the corresponding period of 2019.Results: 50 dead adult cancer patients were included, 24 in 2019 and 26 in 2020. Among them, 21% vs 42% were younger than 65 years of age; 61% vs 62% were males, for the years 2019 & 2020 respectively. The top three killers in 2019 were colorectal, gastro-esophageal cancers, and hepatocellular carcinoma, while in 2020 were colorectal, hepatocellular carcinoma, and lymphomas. About 16.7% of patients died within 30 days of receiving anti-cancer treatment in 2019 in comparison with 7.7% in 2020. The difference in the 30-days mortality after receiving anti-cancer treatment was not statistically significant between 2019 and 2020 (p = 0.329).Conclusion: The Year 2020, the time of the COVID-19pandemic, was not associated with a significant increase in short-term mortality among patients with malignancy in Najran, Saudi Arabia. Our results generally reflect the crucial role of strict preventive national measures in saving lives and warrants further exploration.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xu Tian ◽  
Yan-Fei Jin ◽  
Zhao-Li Zhang ◽  
Hui Chen ◽  
Wei-Qing Chen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Enteral immunonutrition (EIN) has been extensively applied in cancer patients, however its role in esophageal cancer (EC) patients receiving esophagectomy remains unclear. We performed this network meta-analysis to investigate the impact of EIN on patients undergoing surgery for EC and further determine the optimal time of applying EIN.Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, and China National Knowledgement Infrastructure (CNKI) to identify eligible studies. Categorical data was expressed as the odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI), and continuous data was expressed as mean difference (MD) with 95% CI. Pair-wise and network meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of EIN on clinical outcomes using RevMan 5.3 and ADDIS V.1.16.8 softwares. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) was calculated to rank all nutritional regimes.Results: Total 14 studies involving 1071 patients were included. Pair-wise meta-analysis indicated no difference between EIN regardless of the application time and standard EN (SEN), however subgroup analyses found that postoperative EIN was associated with decreased incidence of total infectious complications (OR=0.47; 95%CI=0.26 to 0.84; p=0.01) and pneumonia (OR=0.47; 95%CI=0.25 to 0.90; p=0.02) and shortened LOH (MD=-1.01; 95%CI=-1.44 to -0.57; p<0.001) compared to SEN, which were all supported by network meta-analyses. Ranking probability analysis further indicated that postoperative EIN has the highest probability of being the optimal option in terms of these three outcomes.Conclusions: Postoperative EIN should be preferentially utilized in EC patients undergoing esophagectomy because it has optimal potential of decreasing the risk of total infectious complications and pneumonia and shortening LOH.OSF registration number: 10.17605/OSF.IO/KJ9UY.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shang-Yih Chan ◽  
Yun-Ju Lai ◽  
Yu-Yen Hsin Chen ◽  
Shuo-Ju Chiang ◽  
Yi-Fan Tsai ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Studies to examine the impact of end-of-life (EOL) discussions on the utilization of life-sustaining treatments near death were limited and had inconsistent findings. This nationwide population-based cohort study determined the impact of EOL discussions on the utilization of life-sustaining treatments in the last three months of life in Taiwanese cancer patients. Methods This cohort study included adult cancer patients from 2012–2018, which were confirmed by pathohistological reports. Life-sustaining treatments during the last three months of life included cardiopulmonary resuscitation, intubation, and defibrillation. EOL discussions in cancer patients were confirmed by their medical records. Association of EOL discussions with utilization of life-sustaining treatments were assessed using multiple logistic regression. Results Of 381,207 patients, the mean age was 70.5 years and 19.4% of the subjects utilized life-sustaining treatments during the last three months of life. After adjusting for other covariates, those who underwent EOL discussions were less likely to receive life-sustaining treatments during the last three months of life compared to those who did not (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.80–0.84). Considering the type of treatments, EOL discussions correlated with a lower likelihood of receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (AOR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.41–0.45), endotracheal intubation (AOR = 0.87, 95%CI: 0.85–0.89), and defibrillation (AOR = 0.52, 95%CI: 0.48–0.57). Conclusion EOL discussions correlated with a lower utilization of life-sustaining treatments during the last three months of life among cancer patients. Our study supports the importance of providing these discussions to cancer patients to better align care with preferences during the EOL treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Busayo I. Ajuwon ◽  
Isabelle Yujuico ◽  
Katrina Roper ◽  
Alice Richardson ◽  
Meru Sheel ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an infectious disease of global significance, causing a significant health burden in Africa due to complications associated with infection, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. In Nigeria, which is considered a high prevalence country, estimates of HBV cases are inconsistent, and therefore additional clarity is required to manage HBV-associated public health challenges. Methods A systematic review of the literature (via PubMed, Advanced Google Scholar, African Index Medicus) was conducted to retrieve primary studies published between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019, with a random-effects model based on proportions used to estimate the population-based prevalence of HBV in the Nigerian population. Results The final analyses included 47 studies with 21,702 participants that revealed a pooled prevalence of 9.5%. A prevalence estimate above 8% in a population is classified as high. Sub-group analyses revealed the highest HBV prevalence in rural settings (10.7%). The North West region had the highest prevalence (12.1%) among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones/regions. The estimate of total variation between studies indicated substantial heterogeneity. These variations could be explained by setting and geographical region. The statistical test for Egger’s regression showed no evidence of publication bias (p = 0.879). Conclusions We present an up-to-date review on the prevalence of HBV in Nigeria, which will provide critical data to optimise and assess the impact of current prevention and control strategies, including disease surveillance and diagnoses, vaccination policies and management for those infected.


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