Ozgur Tanriverdi1, Halil Beydilli, Birdal Yildirim, Ulku Karagoz. 1. Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Mugla, Turkey E-mail : dr.ozgur.tanriverdi@gmail.com, ozgur.tanriverdi@yahoo.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Emergency departments are visited by cancer patients for palliation of cancer-related symptoms, management of treatment-related side effects, oncologic emergencies, co-morbidities, and/or end of life care. In this study, we aimed to identify the characteristics of cancer patients admitted to an emergency medicine department in Southwest Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective descriptive study, a total of 304 emergency department admissions of 102 patients with cancer due to medical conditions were evaluated. Descriptive statistical methods, statistical analysis for correlation, Student's t-test, chi-square tests and logistic regression test were used. RESULTS: The majority of patients visiting to emergency departments were male (n=66, 65%) and over 65 years of age (53, 52%). Some 30% (n=31) had a lung cancer diagnosis, 32% (n=33) presentation with dyspnea, 53% (n=55) with metastasis, 30% (n=16) with multiple metastatic lesions in lung, and 68% (n=70) had a poor ECOG performance status (score 3 to 4). CONCLUSIONS: Emergency departments have valuable roles in managing and caring for patients with malignancies.
BACKGROUND: Emergency departments are visited by cancerpatients for palliation of cancer-related symptoms, management of treatment-related side effects, oncologic emergencies, co-morbidities, and/or end of life care. In this study, we aimed to identify the characteristics of cancerpatients admitted to an emergency medicine department in Southwest Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective descriptive study, a total of 304 emergency department admissions of 102 patients with cancer due to medical conditions were evaluated. Descriptive statistical methods, statistical analysis for correlation, Student's t-test, chi-square tests and logistic regression test were used. RESULTS: The majority of patients visiting to emergency departments were male (n=66, 65%) and over 65 years of age (53, 52%). Some 30% (n=31) had a lung cancer diagnosis, 32% (n=33) presentation with dyspnea, 53% (n=55) with metastasis, 30% (n=16) with multiple metastatic lesions in lung, and 68% (n=70) had a poor ECOG performance status (score 3 to 4). CONCLUSIONS: Emergency departments have valuable roles in managing and caring for patients with malignancies.
Authors: Dania M van der Meer; Tracey J Weiland; Jennifer Philip; George A Jelinek; Mark Boughey; Jonathan Knott; Claudia H Marck; Jennifer L Weil; Heather P Lane; Anthony J Dowling; Anne-Maree Kelly Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2015-08-26 Impact factor: 3.603