Performance status (PS): a simple predictor of short-term outcome of cancer patients with solid tumors admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).
BACKGROUND
Admission of cancer patients with serious medical complications to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to examine the 30-day all-cause mortality in cancer patients with solid tumors admitted to the ICU and to identify factors predicting 30-day mortality.


METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted in 69 consecutive cancer patients with solid tumors admitted to the ICU of a 400-bed general hospital in Greece, between October 2001 and October 2005. Demographics, ECOG performance status (PS) prior to hospitalization, stage of cancer, metastases, number of metastatic sites, prior chemotherapy, primary site of tumor, APACHE II score on ICU admission, development of ICU acquired infection, sepsis, multiple organ failure (MOF), need for mechanical ventilation (MV), length of ICU stay, hospital stay and 30-day mortality were examined.


RESULTS
The observed 30-day hospital mortality rate was 66.6% (n=46) with most deaths (n=32) occurring in the ICU. Univariate negative predictors of 30-day mortality were PS 3-4 (p=0.03), APACHE II score (p=0.001), MOF (p=0.001) and need for MV (p=0.001). Only PS 3-4 was an independent predictor in multivariate analysis (p=0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
ECOG PS 3-4 prior to hospitalization was found to be a simple negative predictor of short-term outcome of cancer patients with solid tumors admitted to the ICU.
Christodoulou
C
C
Second Oncology Department, "Henry Dunant" Hospital, Athens, Greece. hecogiat@otenet.gr
Rizos
M
M
Galani
E
E
Rellos
K
K
Skarlos
D V
DV
Michalopoulos
A
A
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome