scholarly journals Effect of Hemoglobin on the Prognosis of Patients with Advanced Cancer in Palliative Care Settings

Author(s):  
xinghe liao ◽  
Cihang Bao ◽  
Minghui Liu ◽  
Menglei Chen ◽  
Xiaoli Gu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Hemoglobin is a prognostic factor for many cancer patients. However, its effect on the prognosis of patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative treatment is still unclear.Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether hemoglobin can be used as a prognostic indicator for patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative treatment.Methods: From July 2013 to October 2015, 368 consecutive patients were treated in the palliative treatment center of the Shanghai Cancer Center of Fudan University. The data for 105 patients were extended in the follow-up. The cut-off value selected for hemoglobin was 100 g/L.Results: The median survival time of patients with low hemoglobin was shorter than that of patients with high hemoglobin (41 days vs. 84 days). In the follow-up readmission cohort (n = 105), the median survival time for patients with high hemoglobin (HHb → HHb) was 3.44 times longer than that of patients with low hemoglobin (HHb → LHb). Thus, both low hemoglobin and decreased hemoglobin were identified as independent prognostic factors for poor prognosis.Conclusions: In palliative treatment, hemoglobin can be used as a stratification factor to determine the prognosis of advanced cancer patients.

Author(s):  
J. Frikkel ◽  
M. Beckmann ◽  
N. De Lazzari ◽  
M. Götte ◽  
S. Kasper ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Physical activity (PA) is recommended to improve advanced cancer patients’ (ACP) physical functioning, fatigue, and quality of life. Yet, little is known about ACPs’ attitude towards PA and its influence on fatigue and depressiveness over a longer period. This prospective, non-interventional cohort study examined ACPs’ fatigue, depression, motivation, and barriers towards PA before and after 12 months of treatment among ACP Methods Outpatients with incurable cancer receiving treatment at a German Comprehensive Cancer Center reporting moderate/severe weakness/tiredness during self-assessment via MIDOS II were enrolled. Fatigue (FACT-F), depression (PHQ-8), cancer-related parameters, self-assessed PA behavior, motivation for and barriers against PA were evaluated (T0). Follow-up data was acquired after 12 months (T1) using the same questionnaire. Results At follow-up, fatigue (p=0.017) and depressiveness (p=0.015) had increased in clinical relevant extent. Physically active ACP did not show significant progress of FACT-F (p=0.836) or PHQ-8 (p=0.799). Patient-reported barriers towards PA remained stable. Logistic regression analyses identified motivation as a positive predictor for PA at both time points (T0, β=2.152, p=0.017; T1, β =2.264, p=0.009). Clinically relevant depression was a negative predictor for PA at T0 and T1 (T0, β=−3.187, p=0.044; T1, β=−3.521, p=0.041). Conclusion Our findings emphasize the importance of psychological conditions in physical activity behavior of ACP. Since psychological conditions seem to worsen over time, early integration of treatment is necessary. By combining therapy approaches of cognitive behavioral therapy and exercise in interdisciplinary care programs, the two treatment options might reinforce each other and sustainably improve ACPs’ fatigue, physical functioning, and QoL. Trial registration German Register of Clinical Trials, DRKS00012514, registration date: 30.05.2017


2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 391-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mette L. Lousdal ◽  
Ivar Sønbø Kristiansen ◽  
Bjørn Møller ◽  
Henrik Støvring

Background: Mean duration of survival following treatment is a prerequisite for cost-effectiveness analyses used for assessing new and costly life-extending therapies for cancer patients. Mean survival time is rarely reported due to censoring imposed by limited follow-up time, whereas the median survival time often is. The empirical relationship between mean and median survival time for cancer patients is not known. Aim: To derive the empirical associations between mean and median survival time across cancer types and to validate this empirical prediction approach and compare it with the standard approach of fitting a Weibull distribution. Methods: We included all patients in Norway diagnosed from 1960 to 1999 with one of the 13 most common solid tumor cancers until emigration, death, or 31 December 2011, whichever came first. Observed median, restricted mean, and mean survival times were obtained in subcohorts defined by patients’ sex, age, cancer type, and time period of diagnosis, which had nearly complete follow-up. Based on theoretical considerations, we fitted a linear relationship between observed means and medians on the log scale. For validation, we estimated mean survival from medians of bootstrap samples with artificially induced censoring and compared with fitting a Weibull distribution. Results: A linear relationship between log-mean survival time and log-median survival time was identified for the 6 cancers with shortest survival plus metastasized breast and prostate cancers. The predicted means of the empirical approach had smaller bias than the standard Weibull approach. Conclusion: For cancer diagnoses with poor prognosis, mean survival times could be predicted from corresponding medians. This empirical prediction approach is useful for validation of estimates of mean survival time and sensitivity analyses in settings with aggregated data only.


2005 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ozlem Tulunoglu ◽  
Tezer Ulusu ◽  
Yasemin Genç

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the median survival time of fixed and removable space maintainers related to age groups, gender, and their distribution in upper and lower dental arches. The adherence of patients to a periodic recall program and the success rate of different types of space maintainers related to different arches were also evaluated. This study included 663 patients aged between 4-15 years old that were treated between the years of 1997 and 2002. The patients were categorized into four main groups: lost to follow-up, failed, successful, and censored at the end of study. Three hundred forty-five space maintainers were considered lost to follow-up, 83 were considered failed, 206 successful, and 20 censored-at-end. The overall median survival time of the appliances was 6.51 months. Median survival time was 7.25 months in the 4-6 age group, 6.35 months in the 7-12 age group, and 7.0 months in the 13+ age groups. Median survival time was 5.76 months in girls and 7.11 months in boys. Median survival time of space maintainers was 7.17 months for maxilla and 6.69 months in the mandible. Median survival time was 5.25 months for space maintainers fabricated in both arches. Citation Tulunoglu Ö, Ulusu T, Genç Y. An Evaluation of Survival of Space Maintainers: A Six-year Follow-up Study J Contemp Dent Pract 2005 February;(6)1:074-084.


2010 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilya Laufer ◽  
Andrew Hanover ◽  
Eric Lis ◽  
Yoshiya Yamada ◽  
Mark Bilsky

Object In this paper, the authors' goal was to determine the outcome of reoperation for recurrent epidural spinal cord compression in patients with metastatic spine disease. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted of all patients who underwent spine surgery at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center between 1996 and 2007. Thirty-nine patients who underwent reoperation of the spine at the level previously treated with surgery were identified. Only patients whose reoperation was performed because of tumor recurrence leading to high-grade epidural spinal cord compression or recurrence with no further radiation options were included in the study. Patients who underwent reoperations exclusively for instrumentation failure were excluded. All patients underwent additional decompression via a posterolateral approach without removal of the spinal instrumentation. Results Patients underwent 1–4 reoperations at the same level. A median survival time of 12.4 months was noted after the first reoperation, and a median survival time of 9.1 months was noted after the last reoperation. At last follow-up 22 (65%) of 34 patients were ambulatory at the time of last follow-up or death, and the median time between loss-of-ambulation and death was 1 month. Functional status was maintained or improved by one Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group grade in 97% of patients. A major surgical complication rate of 5% was noted. Conclusions Reoperation represents a viable option in patients with high-grade epidural spinal cord compression who have recurrent metastatic tumors at previously operated spinal levels. In carefully selected patients, reoperation can prolong ambulation and result in good functional and neurological outcomes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 172-175
Author(s):  
Md Harun Or Rashid ◽  
Quadrat E Elahi ◽  
Md Ashraful Alam ◽  
Fatima Sarker

Background: To compare the survival rate of paclitaxel plus cisplatin (PC arm), paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (PG arm) and gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC arm) in chemotherapy patients with non resectable lung cancer. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study to evaluate chemotherapy response among non resectable lung cancer patients with their survival at cancer center CMH, Dhaka since 01 July 2013 to 31 March 2015. One hundred fifty-four (154) non resectable lung cancer patients were randomly divided into three groups, 50 patients in PC arm, 51 patients in PG arm and 53 patients in GC arm. In PC arm paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 (day 1) with cisplatin 75mg/m2 (day 1), in PG arm Paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 (day 1) with gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 (days 1 and 8) and in GC arm gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 (days 1 and 8) with cisplatin 100mg/m2 (day 1). Results: Patients characteristics were similar between the three groups. The overall response rate was 40% in the PC arm,43.1% in the PG arm, 43.4% in the GC arm. The median survival time in PC arm was 8.5 months, in PG arm was 8.8 months, in GC arm was 9.2 months. The major side effect was myelosuppression which accounts 71% patients. The average treatment costs were 57% and 30% lower in PC arm as compared with GC and PG arm respectively. Conclusion: The median survival time, disease free survival time and 1-year survival rate in PC, PG, GC arms without significant difference. Treatment were well tolerable; quality of life parameter was mostly similar but paclitaxel with cisplatin was most cost effective than others chemotherapy regimen. J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2020; 38(4): 172-175


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e20542-e20542
Author(s):  
S. Yennurajalingam ◽  
D. L. Urbauer ◽  
R. Chacko ◽  
D. Hui ◽  
Y. A. Amin ◽  
...  

e20542 Background: Advanced cancer patients develop severe physical and psychosocial symptom clusters. There is limited data on the impact of an outpatient interdisciplinary team (IDT) consultation lead by palliative care specialists on symptom clusters. Cluster composition and consistence, response rate and predictors of response are unknown. Methods: 914 consecutive patients with advanced cancer presenting in the OSC from Jan 2003 to Oct 2008 with a complete Edmonton symptom assessment scale at the initial and follow-up visit (median 14 days, range 1–4 wks), and CAGE status (alcohol screening) were reviewed. Wilcoxon ranked sign test was used to determine whether symptoms changed over time. Principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation was used to determine clusters of symptoms at baseline and at follow-up. The number of factors calculated was determined based upon the number of eigen values that were greater than one. Results: Median age was 59 yrs, female were 46%. The most common primary cancer was Lung (19%). Baseline and follow-up visit scores (mean, SD) were: fatigue 5.7 (2.1) and 5.2 (2.2, p<0.0001), pain 4.9 (2.6) and 4.1 (2.6 p<0.0001), nausea 1.8 (2.4) and 1.7 (2.3, p=0.1), depression 2.6 (2.5) and 2.2(2.4,p<0.0001), anxiety 2.9 (2.7) and 2.4 (2.4, p<0.0001), drowsiness 3.2 (2.8) and 3.2 (2.6, p=0.7), dyspnea 2.6 (2.7) and 2.4 (2.6), p=0.0027), appetite 4.2(2.7) and 3.9 (2.7, p<0.0001), sleep 4.2 (2.6) and 3.8 (2.6, p<0.0001) and well being 4.3 (2.5) and 3.9 (2.3, p<0.0001). During the follow- up the symptom clusters varied from a 3 factor to a 2 factor model, reflecting the impact of the IDT on symptom burden. CAGE positive and CAGE negative patients had a significantly different symptom cluster model. Conclusions: Cluster composition differs when patients are assessed and managed by an IDT and among patients who screen positive for alcoholism. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 11617-11617
Author(s):  
Login S. George ◽  
Megan Johnson Shen ◽  
Paul K. Maciejewski ◽  
Andrew S. Epstein ◽  
Holly Gwen Prigerson

11617 Background: Although accurate TIU is necessary for informed treatment decision-making, clinicians worry that patients’ recognition of the terminal nature of their illness may lower psychological well-being. This study examines if such recognition is associated with lowered psychological well-being, that persists over time. Methods: Data came from 87 advanced cancer patients, with a life expectancy of less than 6 months. Patients were assessed pre and post an oncology visit to discuss cancer restaging scan results, and again one month later (follow-up). TIU was assessed at pre and post as the sum of four indicator variables — understanding of terminal nature of illness, curability, stage, and life-expectancy — and a TIU change score was computed (post minus pre). Psychological well-being (psychological symptoms subscale, McGill questionnaire) was assessed at pre, post, and follow-up, and two change scores were computed (post minus pre; follow-up minus post). Results: Changes toward more accurate TIU was associated with a corresponding decline in psychological well-being ( r = -0.33, p < .01), but thereafter was associated with subsequent improvements in psychological well-being ( r = .40, p < .001). This pattern persisted even after adjustment for relevant demographic factors, prognostic discussion, scan results, and physical well-being change. TIU change scores ranged from positive to negative, with some participants showing improvements in TIU ( n = 19), some showing decrements in TIU ( n = 14), and others showing stable TIU ( n = 54). Among patients with improved TIU, psychological well-being initially decreased, but subsequently recovered [7.03 (2.23) to 6.30 (1.80), to 7.63 (2.08)]; the stable TIU group showed relatively unchanged well-being [7.34 (2.37) to 7.45 (2.32), to 7.36 (2.66)], and the less accurate TIU group showed an initial improvement followed by a subsequent decline [6.30 (2.62) to 7.36 (2.04), to 5.63 (3.40)]. Conclusions: Improved TIU may be associated with initial decrements in psychological well-being, followed by patients rebounding to baseline levels. Concerns about psychological harm may not need to be a deterrent to having prognostic discussions with patients.


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