Jiayun Xu1, Marie T Nolan2, Katherine Heinze3, Gayane Yenokyan4, Mark T Hughes5, Julie Johnson6, Joan Kub7, Carrie Tudor8, Daniel P Sulmasy9, Lisa Soleymani Lehmann10, Joseph J Gallo11, Felicia Rockko12, Mei Ching Lee13. 1. Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: jxu32@jhu.edu. 2. Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: mnolan3@jhu.edu. 3. Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: kgriff12@jhu.edu. 4. Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: gyenoky1@jhu.edu. 5. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: mthughes@jhmi.edu. 6. The University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. Electronic address: jjohnso3@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu. 7. Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: jkub1@jhu.edu. 8. Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: ctudor2@jhu.edu. 9. The University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. Electronic address: dsulmasy@bsd.uchicago.edu. 10. Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: LLEHMANN1@PARTNERS.ORG. 11. Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: jgallo@jhsph.edu. 12. Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: felicia.rockko@gmail.com. 13. Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: lee@son.umaryland.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE: National reports on end-of-life symptom management reveal a gap in the evidence regarding symptoms other than pain and studies of diseases other than cancer. This study examines the frequency and severity of symptoms and quality of life (QOL) in persons with advanced cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and congestive heart failure (CHF). METHODS: The present study is a cross-sectional examination of symptoms and QOL measured using the McGill QOL Questionnaire, among 147 participants. RESULTS: Forty one percent of participants had advanced cancer, 22% had ALS, and 37% had advanced CHF. A total of 266 symptoms were reported, with the common symptom categories being discomfort/pain, weakness/fatigue/sleep, and respiratory. Participants with CHF had the highest mean symptom severity and the lowest QOL. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware and attentive for symptoms other than pain in patients with advanced illness. Studies on diseases other than cancer, such as CHF and ALS, are important to improve symptom management in all disease groups.
PURPOSE: National reports on end-of-life symptom management reveal a gap in the evidence regarding symptoms other than pain and studies of diseases other than cancer. This study examines the frequency and severity of symptoms and quality of life (QOL) in persons with advanced cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and congestive heart failure (CHF). METHODS: The present study is a cross-sectional examination of symptoms and QOL measured using the McGill QOL Questionnaire, among 147 participants. RESULTS: Forty one percent of participants had advanced cancer, 22% had ALS, and 37% had advanced CHF. A total of 266 symptoms were reported, with the common symptom categories being discomfort/pain, weakness/fatigue/sleep, and respiratory. Participants with CHF had the highest mean symptom severity and the lowest QOL. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware and attentive for symptoms other than pain in patients with advanced illness. Studies on diseases other than cancer, such as CHF and ALS, are important to improve symptom management in all disease groups.
Authors: Marie T Nolan; Mark Hughes; Derek Paul Narendra; Johanna R Sood; Peter B Terry; Alan B Astrow; Joan Kub; Richard E Thompson; Daniel P Sulmasy Journal: J Pain Symptom Manage Date: 2005-10 Impact factor: 3.612
Authors: M Maessen; Jan H Veldink; B D Onwuteaka-Philipsen; J M de Vries; J H J Wokke; G van der Wal; L H van den Berg Journal: Neurology Date: 2009-09-22 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: David B Bekelman; John S Rumsfeld; Edward P Havranek; Traci E Yamashita; Evelyn Hutt; Sheldon H Gottlieb; Sydney M Dy; Jean S Kutner Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2009-03-14 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Daniel P Sulmasy; Mark T Hughes; Richard E Thompson; Alan B Astrow; Peter B Terry; Joan Kub; Marie T Nolan Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2007-11-20 Impact factor: 5.562