PURPOSE: To assess whether age has an impact on symptoms, problems and needs of hospitalized advanced cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective analysis of 181 patients referred to a Palliative Care Team was done using a standardized list of symptoms, problems and needs. Differences between 3 age groups (<60; 60-70; > or =70) were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients > or =70 years had a significantly different prevalence of depressed mood (48% versus 13% of patients 60-70 years and 24% of patients <60 years, p=0.002), urinary tract problems (20% versus 3% versus 8%, p=0.024) and drowsiness (18% versus 42% versus 25%, p=0.039). They expressed more problems with a shortage of informal caregivers (45% versus 42% versus 17%, p<0.001) and less need for support in coping (40% versus 61% versus 63%, p=0.043), relational support (3% versus 8% versus 14%, p=0.019) and support in communication (0% versus 8% versus 11%, p=0.013). CONCLUSION: Fewer differences than expected were found. Elderly cancer patients admitted to a hospital have more or less the same symptoms, problems and needs as their younger counterparts. Despite these findings, age-specific assessment of symptoms, problems and needs ought to be part of optimal symptom management.
PURPOSE: To assess whether age has an impact on symptoms, problems and needs of hospitalized advanced cancerpatients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective analysis of 181 patients referred to a Palliative Care Team was done using a standardized list of symptoms, problems and needs. Differences between 3 age groups (<60; 60-70; > or =70) were analyzed. RESULTS:Patients > or =70 years had a significantly different prevalence of depressed mood (48% versus 13% of patients 60-70 years and 24% of patients <60 years, p=0.002), urinary tract problems (20% versus 3% versus 8%, p=0.024) and drowsiness (18% versus 42% versus 25%, p=0.039). They expressed more problems with a shortage of informal caregivers (45% versus 42% versus 17%, p<0.001) and less need for support in coping (40% versus 61% versus 63%, p=0.043), relational support (3% versus 8% versus 14%, p=0.019) and support in communication (0% versus 8% versus 11%, p=0.013). CONCLUSION: Fewer differences than expected were found. Elderly cancerpatients admitted to a hospital have more or less the same symptoms, problems and needs as their younger counterparts. Despite these findings, age-specific assessment of symptoms, problems and needs ought to be part of optimal symptom management.
Authors: Aaron M Olden; Robert Holloway; Susan Ladwig; Timothy E Quill; Edwin van Wijngaarden Journal: J Pain Symptom Manage Date: 2011-03-27 Impact factor: 3.612
Authors: Nikesha Gilmore; Lee Kehoe; Jessica Bauer; Huiwen Xu; Bianca Hall; Megan Wells; Lianlian Lei; Eva Culakova; Marie Flannery; Valerie Aarne Grossman; Ronak Amir Sardari; Himal Subramanya; Sindhuja Kadambi; Elizabeth Belcher; Jared Kettinger; Mark A O'Rourke; Elie G Dib; Nicholas J Vogelzang; William Dale; Supriya Mohile Journal: Oncologist Date: 2021-09-19
Authors: Kelly M Trevino; Charlotte Healy; Peter Martin; Beverly Canin; Karl Pillemer; Jo Anne Sirey; M Cary Reid Journal: J Geriatr Oncol Date: 2018-09 Impact factor: 3.599
Authors: Tom Lormans; Everlien de Graaf; Joep van de Geer; Frederieke van der Baan; Carlo Leget; Saskia Teunissen Journal: Palliat Med Date: 2021-04-20 Impact factor: 4.762