Birdal Yildirim1, Ozgur Tanriverdi. 1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Education and Research Hospital, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Mugla, Turkey E-mail : mugla.medicaloncology@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although previously studies have reported that most patients with malignancy prefer to die at home, this is not the real situation in clinical practice. AIM: In this study, we aimed to determine the characteristics of Turkish cancer patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) within one month before death. MATERIALS AND METHOD: This descriptive retrospective study focused on questions about how often and why patients with cancer visited the ED before death. A total of 107 individuals with cancer were divided into 2 groups: Group 1, patients with at least one visit in the final 4 weeks; and Group 2, patients with no visit to ED. Demographic and clinical features were compared between the two groups. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Descriptive statistical methods, statistical analysis for correlation, Student's t-test, chi-square tests and logistic regression were used. RESULTS: At least one visit to ED within one month before death was reported for 64 (60%) of the 107 cases. Of these 64 (Group 1), 38% (n=24) were discharged and 9% (n=6) died in the ED. The most common site of the primary tumor was the lung (n=24, 38%) and the most common symptom was dyspnea (92%). With the other 43 (40%) cancer patients not presenting to the ED within one month before death, they were more likely to be female with another type of cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Guidelines are needed for better management of cancer patients benefiting from visits to ED within the last month of life .
BACKGROUND: Although previously studies have reported that most patients with malignancy prefer to die at home, this is not the real situation in clinical practice. AIM: In this study, we aimed to determine the characteristics of Turkish cancerpatients admitted to the emergency department (ED) within one month before death. MATERIALS AND METHOD: This descriptive retrospective study focused on questions about how often and why patients with cancer visited the ED before death. A total of 107 individuals with cancer were divided into 2 groups: Group 1, patients with at least one visit in the final 4 weeks; and Group 2, patients with no visit to ED. Demographic and clinical features were compared between the two groups. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Descriptive statistical methods, statistical analysis for correlation, Student's t-test, chi-square tests and logistic regression were used. RESULTS: At least one visit to ED within one month before death was reported for 64 (60%) of the 107 cases. Of these 64 (Group 1), 38% (n=24) were discharged and 9% (n=6) died in the ED. The most common site of the primary tumor was the lung (n=24, 38%) and the most common symptom was dyspnea (92%). With the other 43 (40%) cancerpatients not presenting to the ED within one month before death, they were more likely to be female with another type of cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Guidelines are needed for better management of cancerpatients benefiting from visits to ED within the last month of life .
Authors: Zhi Yang; Runxiang Yang; Min Ji Kwak; Aiham Qdaisat; Junzhong Lin; Charles E Begley; Cielito C Reyes-Gibby; Sai-Ching Jim Yeung Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-02-20 Impact factor: 3.240