Prognostic significance of symptoms of hospitalised advanced cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prognostic value of symptoms in hospitalised advanced cancer patients.


METHODS
A prospective analysis was performed of 181 hospitalised patients referred to a Palliative Care Team. Comprehensive symptom questionnaire, functional status, estimated life expectancy and survival were assessed. Using a Cox regression model, a predictive survival model was built.


RESULTS
Median survival: 53 d. Median number of symptoms: 4; 20 symptoms occurred in 10%. Multivariate analysis showed nausea, dysphagia, dyspnoea, confusion and absence of depressed mood as independent prognostic factors for survival (p<0.05) with relative risks of dying of 1.96, 1.81, 1.79, 2.35 and 1.79, respectively. Patients with 2, 3 or 4 of these factors at the same time had a relative risk of dying of 2.7, 2.1 and 9.0, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
A cluster of factors comprising nausea, dysphagia, dyspnoea, confusion and absence of depressed mood may be used to accurately predict survival in hospitalised advanced cancer patients.
Teunissen
Saskia C
SC
Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Centre, F02.126, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. saskia.teunissen@12move.nl
de Graeff
Alexander
A
de Haes
Hanneke C
HC
Voest
Emile E
EE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D010166:Palliative Care; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016019:Survival Analysis