title: Cross-sectional study on comorbidities and adverse events in patients with advanced and recurrent ovarian cancer in France.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of comorbidities and adverse events (AEs), and determine the treatment patterns according to platinum-sensitivity status in patients with advanced (stage IIIB-IV) or recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out in France with patients over 18 years, diagnosed with advanced (stage IIIB-IV) or recurrent EOC between 2009 and 2012. A total of 23 physicians (oncologists and gynecologists) participated, contributing 127 patients. Data were abstracted by participating physicians into a case report form.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 127 patients included, 92 (72.4%) had advanced EOC and 35 (27.6%) had recurrent EOC. A total of 73 comorbidities were reported in 44 patients (34.6%). Vascular (10.2%), metabolic (7.1%), respiratory (5.5%), and psychiatric disorders (5.5%) were the most common types of comorbidities reported. Prevalence of AEs was 74.8%, of which 12.6% were classified as serious. The most common AEs were anemia (16.5%), hematologic events (12.6%), taste change (11.8%), and headache (7.1%). Throughout the follow-up period, twelve patient deaths were reported (six due to disease progression). Of 35 patients with recurrent disease, 16 were highly platinum sensitive (recurrence >12 months after stopping platinum-based therapy), eleven were partially platinum sensitive (recurrence 6-12 months after stopping platinum-based therapy), seven were platinum resistant (recurrence within 6 months of stopping platinum-based therapy or progression while receiving second- or later-line platinum-based therapy), and one was platinum refractory (recurrence within 6 months from the start of first-line platinum-based therapy).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this cross-sectional study of advanced and metastatic ovarian cancer patients, approximately one-third of patients were diagnosed with comorbidities, and approximately three-quarters were diagnosed with AEs (12.6% with severe AEs).
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Pierre-Bénite Cédex, France.
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Le Saux
authors.affiliation: Center for Observational Research, Amgen Ltd, Uxbridge, UK.
authors.forename: Aliki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Center for Observational Research, Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chia
authors.affiliation: Center for Observational Research, Amgen Ltd, Uxbridge, UK.
authors.forename: Demetris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pillas
authors.affiliation: Center for Observational Research, Amgen Ltd, Uxbridge, UK.
authors.forename: Moninder
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Pierre-Bénite Cédex, France.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Freyer
keywords: comorbidity; drug-related side effects; ovarian neoplasms; platinum sensitivity