title: Physical symptom profile for adult cancer inpatients at a Lebanese cancer unit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hospital-based palliative care programs in Lebanon are nonexistent in a structured form. One of obstacles is the lack of knowledge about symptom prevalence and burden of cancer patients in Lebanon.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional observational study where 100 adult cancer patients admitted to the American University of Beirut Medical Center inpatient unit completed a survey to assess 20 physical symptoms according the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events 4.0 (NCI-CTCAE 4.0) guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hematologic, gastrointestinal, breast, and lung cancers were the most common. Mean age was 51.5 years; 51% were female. 74% of patients with solid tumors had metastatic disease. Treatment approaches were palliative chemotherapy, followed by curative chemotherapy and best supportive care. The most common symptoms were fatigue, appetite loss, nausea, and pain; most distressing were nausea, pain, and fatigue. Nausea and vomiting were more prevalent among females than males. Females reported more severe vomiting than males, but males had more intense pain. Overall symptom burden difference was statistically significant across age groups, with the 51-60 year group having the most symptoms, but not among different genders. Difference was significant among different treatment intents, with the best supportive care group having most symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fatigue should be better addressed as a legitimate symptom. Subgroup differences must be considered when managing gastrointestinal symptoms. Pain should be more effectively managed, and vulnerable subgroups such as the 51-60 year age group and those on best supportive care should receive special consideration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, PO Box 11-0236, Riad El-Solh 1107-2020, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Racha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Halawi
authors.forename: Ehab Saad
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Aldin
authors.forename: Atallah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baydoun
authors.forename: Haifaa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dbouk
authors.forename: Zeina
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nahleh
authors.forename: Zeina
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nasser
authors.forename: Arafat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tfayli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000453:epidemiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult