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Home artificial nutrition in palliative care cancer patients: Impact on survival and performance status.
Ruggeri, E, Giannantonio, M, Agostini, F, Ostan, R, Pironi, L, Pannuti, R
Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland). 2020;(11):3346-3353
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The prevalence of malnutrition is over 70% in advanced cancer patients and impacts negatively on survival and quality of life. Artificial nutrition can be integrated into a home palliative care program. This observational study aims to describe the criteria for identifying the cancer patients that could benefit from home artificial nutrition (HAN) and to evaluate its impact on survival and performance status. METHODS The selection criteria for patient's eligibility to HAN were: Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥40, life expectancy ≥6 weeks, inadequate caloric intake ± malnutrition, suitable psycho-physical conditions and informed consent. The access route for nutritional therapy (home parenteral nutrition, HPN; home enteral nutrition, HEN) was chosen according to the ESPEN Guidelines. The parameters considered were: primary site of the tumor; oral food intake; nutritional status; stage of cachexia; fluid, energy and protein supplied by HAN; survival. RESULTS From 1990 to 2019, 43,474 cancer patients were assisted at home in Bologna (Italy). HAN started in 969 patients (2.2% of total patients, 571 men and 398 women, mean age 65.7 ± 12.7 years): HPN in 629 patients (64.9%), with gastrointestinal obstruction as the main indication; HEN in 340 patients (35.1%), with dysphagia as the main indication. Considering the 890 deceased patients, the mean survival after the start of HAN was 18.3 weeks and 649 patients (72.9%) survived more than 6 weeks. The mean survival was higher in HEN (22.1 weeks) compared to HPN patients (16.1 weeks) (p < .001). After one month, KPS was unchanged in 649 (67.0%), increased in 232 (23.9%) and decreased in 88 patients (9.1%). The mean KPS increased in patients starting HAN in pre-cachexia and cachexia (p < .001). Cachexia and refractory cachexia at the entry were associated with a reduced survival [odds ratio: 1.5 and 2.3 respectively, p < .001 for both condition] respect to pre-cachexia. CONCLUSIONS The selection criteria allow the identification of the patient who can take advantage of HAN. HAN can be effective in avoiding death from malnutrition in 73% of patients, and in maintaining or improving the KPS at one month in 90% of cases. The benefits provided by HAN on survival and performance status depend on the cachexia degree at the entry.
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Clinical management patterns of advanced and metastatic gastro-oesophageal carcinoma after fluoropyrimidine/platinum treatment in France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Brown, J, Liepa, AM, Bapat, B, Madhwani, S, Lorenzen, S, García-Foncillas, J, Candrilli, SD, Kaye, JA
European journal of cancer care. 2020;(2):e13213
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe treatment patterns and resource utilisation in France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom (UK) in patients with unresectable locally advanced and/or metastatic gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA), who failed first-line fluoropyrimidine/platinum treatment. METHODS Treating physicians completed a web-based chart review (2013-2015). Eligible patients were ≥ 18 years old; had unresectable locally advanced and/or metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma including the gastro-oesophageal junction; received first-line fluoropyrimidine/platinum-based therapy; and had ≥ 3 months of follow-up after first-line discontinuation. Data were summarised descriptively for each country. RESULTS There were n = 201 patients in France, n = 202 in Germany, n = 208 in Spain and n = 200 in the UK whose charts were reviewed. Percentages of patients receiving second-line therapy were 55% (France), 48% (Germany), 54% (Spain) and 29% (UK). At the start of second-line therapy, most patients had an ECOG performance status of 1 (range 0-3). Second-line therapy was primarily monotherapy, but agents used varied within and across countries. Supportive care use and resource utilisation were frequent whether receiving additional therapy or not; >60% patients had clinic visits unrelated to chemotherapy administration, and > 30% has ≥ 1 hospital admission. CONCLUSIONS For the time of study, established GEA treatment guidelines were generally followed. However, therapies varied widely in the second-line setting.
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Use of a Digital Monitoring Platform to Improve Outcomes in Infants With a Single Ventricle.
Vergales, J, Peregoy, L, Zalewski, J, Plummer, ST
World journal for pediatric & congenital heart surgery. 2020;(6):753-759
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite advances, infants with single ventricle heart disease continue to have high morbidity and mortality in the first year of life. Home monitoring programs (HMPs) have reduced mortality and have grown to use integrative digital platforms. The objective was to evaluate how implementation of a digital HMP platform affects nutritional outcomes in infants undergoing staged single ventricle palliation. METHODS We conducted a retrospective, multicenter, observational study of all infants who required a neonatal operation as part of staged single ventricle palliation between 2013 and 2018. Patients were excluded if less than 35 weeks' gestation or underwent biventricular repair in the first year of life. Implementation of a digital monitoring platform that allows for secure monitoring of nasogastric feed advancement and oxygen saturation occurred in 2016, creating the two groups in a similar surgical era. RESULTS There were 38 patients who fell under a standard HMP compared to 31 utilizing the digital platform. There was no difference in baseline demographics, anatomy, or preoperative factors between the groups. Use of a digital platform was associated with reduced postoperative length of stay (30.1 vs 33.1 days, P = .04). More children in the digital platform monitoring group were able to achieve oral feeding at one year of age (90% vs 68%, P = .03). A total of 25% of infants went home with a nasogastric tube, all but one transitioning to full oral feeds. CONCLUSIONS Use of a digital, fully electronic medical record (EMR)-integrated, comprehensive HMP was associated with shorter postoperative length of stay in neonates undergoing staged single ventricle palliation and allowed for higher rates of full oral feeding.
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Association Between Physical Activity and Use of Complementary Medicine by Female Oncology Patients in an Integrative Palliative Care Setting.
Gressel Raz, O, Samuels, N, Levy, M, Leviov, M, Lavie, O, Ben-Arye, E
Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.). 2020;(8):721-728
Abstract
Objective: To examine the association between physical activity and the reported use of complementary medicine by patients with breast and gynecological cancer referred or self-referred to a complementary/integrative medicine (CIM) consultation within a palliative care context. Methods: Retrospective observational study analyzing the medical files of patients referred to a CIM consultation provided within a specialized integrative oncology clinic for demographic and cancer-related parameters; participation in physical exercise and activities; and current use of nonconventional medical practices. Quality of life (QoL) outcomes were assessed during the initial CIM consultation by using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) tool. Results: Among the 162 patient files examined, participation in physical activities was reported in 152, of whom 83 were identified as active and 69 inactive according to the American Cancer Society guidelines. A logistic multivariate regression model showed that physical activity was associated with higher rates of herbal/dietary supplement use for noncancer-related outcomes (odds ratio = 7.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6-32.46, p = 0.01); more frequently reported use of acupuncture for cancer-related outcomes (odds ratio = 7.79, 95% CI 1.93-31.5, p = 0.004); and lower ESAS scores for well-being (odds ratio = 0.77, 95% CI 1.0.65-0.92, p = 0.004), indicating better QoL. Conclusion: Physical activity was found to be associated with a greater use of CIM (specifically herbal/dietary supplement use and acupuncture) in patients with breast and gynecological cancer during oncology treatment. Further research is needed to explore whether CIM use and physical activity are influenced by patients' health-belief models of care, and whether the CIM consultation can promote physical activity among these patients.
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The Impact of Palliative Care Team Consultation on Quality of Life of Patients with Advanced Cancer in Dutch Hospitals: An Observational Study.
Brinkman-Stoppelenburg, A, Vergouwe, Y, Booms, M, Hendriks, MP, Peters, LA, Quarles van Ufford-Mannesse, P, Terheggen, F, Verhage, S, van der Vorst, MJDL, Willemen, I, et al
Oncology research and treatment. 2020;(9):405-413
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Experimental studies have shown that palliative care team (PCT) involvement can improve quality of life (QoL) and symptom burden of patients with advanced cancer. It is unclear to what extent this effect is sustained in daily practice of hospital care. OBJECTIVE This observational study aims to investigate the effect of PCT consultation on QoL and symptom burden of hospitalized patients with advanced cancer in daily practice. METHODS After admission to 1 of 9 participating hospitals, patients with advanced cancer for whom the attending physician answered "no" to the Surprise Question were invited to complete a questionnaire, including the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL, at 6 points in time, until 3 months after admission. Outcomes were compared between patients who received PCT consultation and patients who did not, taking into account differences in baseline characteristics. RESULTS A total of 164 patients consented to participate, of whom 32 received PCT consultation. Of these patients, 108 were able to complete a questionnaire at day 14, of whom 19 after receiving PCT consultation. After adjusting for baseline differences, EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL scores for pain, appetite, and emotional functioning at day 14 were more favorable for patients who received a PCT consultation. CONCLUSION PCT consultation decreased patients' symptom burden and tends to have a positive effect on QoL of hospitalized patients with advanced cancer, even if the PCT is consulted late in the patient's disease trajectory.
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The prognostic role of soluble TGF-beta and its dynamics in unresectable pancreatic cancer treated with chemotherapy.
Park, H, Bang, JH, Nam, AR, Park, JE, Jin, MH, Bang, YJ, Oh, DY
Cancer medicine. 2020;(1):43-51
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is a multifunctional regulatory factor. Here we measured serum soluble TGF-β (sTGF-β) levels and evaluated its dynamics and prognostic capabilities during chemotherapy in unresectable pancreatic cancer patients. METHODS We prospectively enrolled 60 patients treated with FOLFIRINOX as the first-line palliative chemotherapy. We collected blood samples at the time of diagnosis, first response assessment, and disease progression and measured serum sTGF-β using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS The patients' median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 10.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.5-12.1) and 6.5 (95% CI, 4.9-8.1) months, respectively. Patients with low sTGF-β at diagnosis (<31.2 ng/mL) had better OS and PFS than patients with high sTGF-β, respectively, (OS, 13.7 vs 9.2 months; hazard ratio [HR], 2.602; P = .004; PFS, 9.0 vs 5.8 months; HR, 2.010; P = .034). At the time of disease progression, sTGF-β was increased compared with that of diagnosis (mean, 26.4 vs 23.9 ng/mL). In particular, sTGF-β was significantly increased at disease progression in patients with a partial response (mean, 25.7 vs 31.0 ng/mL; P = .049). CONCLUSIONS Pretreatment sTGF-β levels can serve as a prognostic indicator in unresectable pancreatic cancer patients treated with FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy. Likewise, the dynamics of sTGF-β during chemotherapy have prognostic value.
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Palliative care in 9 children with neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation.
Dangel, T, Kmieć, T, Januszaniec, A, Ważny, B
Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology. 2020;(3):653-660
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AIM: Evaluation of pediatric palliative home care of families with children suffering from neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA) and their parents. MATERIAL AND METHODS The children were treated at home by a multidisciplinary team. Densitometry was used to evaluate the condition of the skeletal system. Botulinum toxin was injected into the muscles in doses between 22 and 50 units/kg. The quality of palliative care was assessed on the basis of a specially designed questionnaire for parents. RESULTS The observations were performed on a group of 9 patients with NBIA. On admission, the median age of patients was 9 years (7-14). The average time of palliative home care was 1569 days (34 days-17 years). The median age at death (6 patients) was 11 years (7-15). The botulinum toxin injections gave the following results: reduction of spasticity and dystonia, reduction of spine and chest deformation, relief of pain and suffering, facilitation of rehabilitation and nursing, prevention of permanent contractures, and reduction of excessive salivation. Bone mineral density and bone strength index were reduced. Two patients experienced pathological fracture of the femur. The body mass index at admission varied between 9.8 and 14.9. In 7 cases, introduction of a ketogenic diet resulted in the increase of body mass and height. The ketogenic diet did not worsen the neurological symptoms. The parents positively evaluated the quality of care. CONCLUSION Palliative home care is the optimal form of treatment for children with NBIA.
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Low reported taste function is associated with low preference for high protein products in advanced oesophagogastric cancer patients undergoing palliative chemotherapy.
de Vries, YC, Boesveldt, S, Kampman, E, de Graaf, C, Winkels, RM, van Laarhoven, HWM
Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland). 2019;(1):472-475
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Cancer patients undergoing palliative chemotherapy can experience a variety of chemosensory and food preference changes which may impact their nutritional status and quality of life. However, evidence of these changes in oesophagogastric cancer (OGC) patients is currently mostly qualitative and not supported by quantitative data. The aim of this study was to assess how self-reported and objective taste and smell function and food preferences change over time during chemotherapy in OGC patients. METHODS This observational study included 15 advanced OGC patients planned for first line treatment with capecitabine and oxaliplatin. Participants completed two test sessions scheduled before start of cytotoxic treatment and after two cycles. Self-reported and objective taste and smell function and the macronutrient and taste preference ranking task were conducted at each test session. RESULTS Self-reported taste and smell did not change upon chemotherapy. Objective taste function decreased during chemotherapy, although this was not statistically significant (p = 0.06), objective smell function did not change. Before and during chemotherapy, high protein foods were preferred over high carbohydrate and over low energy products, but food preferences did not change over time. A lower self-reported taste function correlated with a lower preference for high-protein products (ρ = 0.526, p = 0.003). CONCLUSION This study suggests that objective taste function decreases during chemotherapy in OGC patients, but not smell function. A low reported taste function was related to a lower preference for high-protein products.
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Assessment of the needs for palliative care in advanced chronic patients on discharge.
de-la-Rica-Escuín, M, García-Barrecheguren, A, Monche-Palacín, AM
Enfermeria clinica (English Edition). 2019;(1):18-26
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe the advanced chronic patients admitted to an internal medicine department and to identify whether they meet the criteria for the need for palliative care at the time of hospital discharge according to the NECPAL-CCOMS.ICO® instrument. MATERIAL AND METHODS Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study performed on patients admitted to the internal medicine department of the Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa (Saragossa), with a diagnosis of advanced progressive chronic diseases, from May 1, 2017 to September 1, 2017 Variables: sex, age, advanced chronic disease, reason for admission, primary caregiver, origin (residence, address, etc.), number of readmissions in the previous year, existence of advance directives, disability of the patient, existence of order not to resuscitate, Charlson Index and all the variables contained in the NECPAL Instrument CCOMS-ICO ® VERSION 3.0 2016. The data collection was done when the patient was scheduled to be discharged, having resolved the acute circumstance that led to the admission. RESULTS the sample size was 142 patients who met the inclusion criteria: diagnosis of disease advanced evolutionary chronic ages, Charlson Index ≥3 at the time the patient was scheduled to be discharged and signed their informed consent. The average age was 85.80 years and 50.7% were men. The average age of the women was higher than that of the men. The most prevalent advanced chronic disease was chronic heart disease. None of the patients had advance care directives in place.. Nutritional, functional, cognitive and severe dependence was determined in more than 50%. In more than 90% there was the presence of geriatric syndromes and persistent symptoms. The presence of emotional distress was also evident, as was the use of resources. CONCLUSIONS A palliative approach in the care of chronicity would have a very positive impact on the quality of life of the patient and family, would positively influence health systems and would result in cost savings. Implementing the NECPAL CCOMS-ICO® instrument in the health services that serve high proportions of chronically ill patients, accompanied by training measures for health personnel and adaptation of resources, can introduce a qualitative and quantitative change that is very relevant in our the health system.
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Relationship of nutritional status and inflammation with survival in patients with advanced cancer in palliative care.
Souza Cunha, M, Wiegert, EVM, Calixto-Lima, L, Oliveira, LC
Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.). 2018;:98-103
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of nutritional and inflammatory status in patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative care. METHODS The systemic inflammatory response was assessed using the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS), and nutritional status was evaluated according to the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) in 172 patients evaluated on their first visit in the Palliative Care Unit at the National Cancer Institute in Brazil. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to define the best cutoff point for the death-related PG-SGA score in 90 d. Kaplan-Meier curves were conducted for survival analyses, and logistic regression analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS According to the PG-SGA, 83.6% of the patients (n = 143) were malnourished (B + C) and 34.8% (n = 53) had mGPS ≥1. The best cutoff of the PG-SGA score for death was ≥19 points (area under the curve, 0.69; P = 0.041). Patients with scores ≥19, mGPS ≥1, albumin <3.5 g/dL, and C-reactive protein ≥10 mg/L had a significantly lower overall survival. According to the multivariate analysis, albumin <3.5 g/dL (hazard ratio [HR], 2.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-3.58), mGPS ≥1 (HR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.09-2.22), and PG-SGA score ≥19 (HR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.08-2.55) were independent prognostic factors for overall survival. CONCLUSION The severity of the systemic inflammation and the poor nutritional status predict survival and were considered independent prognostic factors. Thus they can be useful tools for nutritional evaluation in palliative care.