RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Patient-reported Symptom Burden, Rate of Completion of Palliative Radiotherapy and 30-day Mortality in Two Groups of Cancer Patients Managed With or Without Additional Care by a Multidisciplinary Palliative Care Team
JF Anticancer Research
JO Anticancer Res
FD International Institute of Anticancer Research
SP 2271
OP 2275
VO 38
IS 4
A1 CARSTEN NIEDER
A1 ASTRID DALHAUG
A1 ELLINOR HAUKLAND
A1 KIRSTEN ENGLJÄHRINGER
YR 2018
UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/38/4/2271.abstract
AB Background/Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze differences in symptom burden, baseline and outcome parameters, including completion of palliative radiotherapy and 30-day mortality, between patients treated with palliative radiotherapy (RT) who were managed exclusively by regular oncology staff or a multidisciplinary palliative care team (MPCT) in addition. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective single-institution analysis. Comparison of two groups of patients: MPCT versus none (n=36 and 65, respectively). All patients provided Edmonton symptom assessment system (ESAS) data before RT. Results: The MPCT group included significantly more patients with reduced performance status. Furthermore, these patients had higher ESAS symptom scores, except for two items (dyspnea, sleep). The largest differences were observed for pain, fatigue, anxiety and depression. The significant difference in pain scores was also reflected in different opioid medication rates. Failure to complete radiotherapy was more common in the MPCT group (11 and 2%, respectively, p=0.05). Thirty-day mortality was different, too (28 and 2%, respectively, p=0.0001). The Kaplan–Meier survival curves were not significantly different (1-year survival rates 21 and 25%, respectively, p=0.27). Conclusion: The MPCT group was characterized by a higher symptom burden. Prognostic factors such as performance status were not balanced between the two groups. Despite this fact, actuarial overall survival was comparable. Given the high rate of 30-day mortality in the MPCT group, efforts to optimize criteria for initiation of radiotherapy are warranted.