Symptom burden in hospitalized patients with curable and incurable cancers.

Authors

null

Richard Newcomb

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

Richard Newcomb , Ryan David Nipp , Andrew T. Chan , Ephraim P. Hochberg , Vicki A. Jackson , Barbara J. Cashavelly , Risa Liang Wong , Joseph Greer , David P. Ryan , Jennifer S. Temel , Areej El-Jawahri

Organizations

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Research Funding

Other Foundation

Background: Inpatient supportive care interventions are targeted to patients with advanced solid tumors due to perceived higher symptom burden. Yet, few studies have characterized symptom prevalence in hospitalized patients with curable cancers. We aimed to describe and compare symptom burden and palliative care utilization in hospitalized patients with curable and incurable cancers to determine the allocation of such supportive care resources. Methods: We conducted a single center study of 1549 patients (238 curable hematologic, 239 curable solid, 123 incurable hematologic, 949 incurable solid cancers) who experienced an unplanned hospitalization between 9/14-4/17. On admission, we assessed patients’ physical symptoms (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System) and psychological distress (Patient Health Questionnaire-4 and Primary Care PTSD Screen). Results: The median number of moderate to severe symptoms reported by patients with curable hematologic, curable solid, incurable hematologic, and incurable solid cancers were 5 [3-6], 5 [3-7], 5 [4-6], and 6[4-7], respectively. Most patients reported moderate to severe fatigue (83.6%, 82.9%, 81.3%, 86.9%). Table 1 depicts rates of psychological distress. In adjusted analyses patients with incurable solid cancers reported higher symptom burden (β = 7.6, P < 0.01), depression (β = 0.4, P = 0.01), and anxiety (β = 0.3, P = 0.03) symptoms, but no difference in PTSD symptoms. Among patients in top quartile of symptom burden, palliative care was consulted in 16.2%, 7.9%, 23.8%, and 49.6% (P < 0.01) of patients with curable hematologic, curable solid, incurable hematologic, and incurable solid cancers, respectively. Conclusions: Hospitalized patients with solid and hematologic cancers experience substantial physical and psychological symptoms regardless of the curability of their illness. Palliative care is rarely consulted for highly symptomatic patients with curable cancers. Inpatient supportive care interventions should target the needs of all highly symptomatic patients with cancer.

SymptomsCurable HematologicCurable SolidIncurable HematologicIncurable Solid
Depression15.2%14.2%21.4%18.1%
Anxiety11.8%13.4%15.0%19.3%
PTSD13.1%13.0%13.2%13.3%

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2018 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Oral Abstract Session

Session Title

Patient and Survivor Care

Track

Patient and Survivor Care

Sub Track

Palliative Care and Symptom Management

Citation

J Clin Oncol 36, 2018 (suppl; abstr 10004)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2018.36.15_suppl.10004

Abstract #

10004

Abstract Disclosures

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