Descriptive analysis of clinical factors affecting terminally ill cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
To make a descriptive analysis of clinical and laboratories parameters in advanced neoplastic patients.


METHODS
We interviewed 406 terminally ill cancer patients to study demographic and neoplastic data, 24 graded symptoms, 21 analytical parameters and scales to evaluate general condition, quality of life and independence in daily activities.


RESULTS
An average of 9.3 symptoms per patient were detected and median survival was 26.5 days. Most frequent symptoms were asthenia (96.8%), anorexia (94.8%), weight loss (88.1%) and pain (80.5%). Principal laboratory abnormalities were high blood sedimentation rate (96%), high cytolysis and cholestasis enzyme levels (50-77%), anemia (81.5%), low protein (66%) and low albumin levels (67%). Symptom prevalence was different according to age, gender, primary tumour, location of metastasis, laboratory parameters, performance status, quality of life or independence in daily-living activities.


CONCLUSIONS
We should know more frequent symptoms affecting terminal cancer patients and any factor contributing to it to provide more comfort in the final phases of life.
Jiménez-Gordo
A M
AM
Medical Oncology, University Hospital Getafe, Avenida de la Ermita, n 2, Portal M, 2 B, Alcobendas, 28108 Madrid, Spain. anajgordo@hotmail.com
Feliu
J
J
Martínez
B
B
de-Castro
J
J
Rodríguez-Salas
N
N
Sastre
N
N
Vilches
Y
Y
Espinosa
E
E
Rodríguez-Aizcorbe
J R
JR
González-Barón
M
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000523:psychology*