title: Sequential Assessments of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Scale Enhance Prognostic Value in Patients With Terminally Ill Cancer Receiving Palliative Care.
abstract: This study aimed to assess the utility of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance scale assessments on days 1 and 8 of palliative care, as well as scale change between these assessments, as prognostic tools for patients with terminally ill cancer. A total of 2392 patients with terminally ill cancer who received palliative care between January 2006 and December 2011 at a single medical center were analyzed. Our study showed that the ECOG scale is a useful prognostic tool to predict life expectancy in patients with terminally ill cancer. The ECOG scale assessments at different time points under palliative care were independent predictors for overall survival. The combined ECOG scale assessments on days 1 and 8 predicted survival more precisely than using day 1 ECOG scale assessment alone.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Branch, School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Meng-Ting
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Kaohsiung Branch, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Ting
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Branch, School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Shin
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Branch, School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chen-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Keelung Branch, Keelung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pei-Hung
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Keelung Branch, Keelung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kun-Yun
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Branch, School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hung-Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Branch, School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yung-Chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Branch, School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan wenchi3992@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Wen-Chi
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D000070659:Patient Comfort; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D063189:Symptom Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D019452:Terminally Ill
keywords: cancer; end of life; life expectancy; performance scale; prognostication; terminally ill