Performance status (PS) scales are used routinely in clinical oncology to evaluate functional status and help direct treatment decisions. PS is also used to determine research protocol eligibility, ...indicate treatment response, and evaluate toxicity in oncology clinical trials. Malnutrition (like poor PS) is associated with adverse outcomes such as lower tolerance to anti-tumor treatment, poor quality of life, and decreased survival. Nutritional status is therefore arguably as important as PS for cancer outcomes. Despite well-documented adverse consequences for patients, malnutrition also often goes undiagnosed until severe depletion is evident. If the predictive importance of nutritional status is comparable to PS, why is nutritional status not routinely used along with PS to guide treatment decisions? There is compelling evidence to support the predictive abilities of both PS and nutritional status in cancer outcomes and treatment decision-making. Perhaps, PS may be a proxy for nutritional status. Nutritional status might also serve as an effective tool for patient selection and stratification in oncology trials. Together with PS, it might provide important and distinct prognostic information; we propose both should be routinely included in outcome studies. The extent to which impaired PS may be a surrogate for malnutrition warrants investigation. Given its comparable importance to PS, it is inexcusable that nutritional status is not given the prominence it deserves as a key patient-reported outcome.
Purpose
Various instruments are used to assess both individual and multiple cancer symptoms. We evaluated the psychometric properties of cancer multisymptom assessment instruments.
Methods
An Ovid ...MEDLINE search was done. All searches were limited to adults and in English. All instruments published from 2005 to 2014 (and with at least one validity test) were included. We excluded those who only reported content validity. Instruments were categorized by the three major types of symptom measurement scales employed as follows: visual analogue (VAS), verbal rating (VRS), and numerical rating (NRS) scales. They were then examined in two areas: (1) psychometric thoroughness (number of tests) and (2) psychometric strength of evidence (validity, reliability, generalizability). We also assigned an empirical global psychometric quality score (which combined the concepts of thoroughness and strength of evidence) to rank the instruments.
Results
We analyzed 57 instruments (17 original, 40 modifications). They varied in types of scales used, symptom dimensions measured, and time frames evaluated. Of the 57, 10 used VAS, 28 VRS, and 19 NRS. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), ESAS-Spanish, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Profile of Mood States (POMS), Symptom Distress Scale (SDS), M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI)-Russian, and MDASI-Taiwanese were the most comprehensively tested for validity and reliability. The ESAS, ESAS-Spanish, ASDS-2, Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS)-SF, POMS, SDS, MDASI (and some translations), and MDASI-Heart Failure all showed good validity and reliability.
Conclusions
The MDASI appeared to be the best overall from a psychometric perspective. This was followed by the ESAS, ESAS-Spanish, POMS, SDS, and some MDASI translations. VRS-based instruments were most common. There was a wide range of psychometric rigor in validation. Consequently, meta-analysis was not possible. Most cancer multisymptom assessment instruments need further extensive validation to establish the excellent reliability and validity required for clinical utility and meaningful research.
Background
In cancer, malnutrition is common and negatively impacts tolerance and outcomes of anti-tumor therapies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of malnutrition risk and ...compare the clinicodemographic features between those with high malnutrition screening tool (MST) scores (i.e., ≥ 2 of 5 = high risk for malnutrition, H-MST) to low scores (L-MST).
Methods
A cohort of 3585 patients (May 2017 through December 2018), who completed the MST at least once at the time of diagnosis of any stage solid tumor, were analyzed. Logistic regression tested for associations between clinicodemographic factors, symptom scores, and H-MST prevalence.
Results
The median age was 64 years (25–75 IQR, 55–72), with 62% females and 81% White. Most common tumor primary sites were breast (28%), gastrointestinal (GI) (21%), and thoracic (13%). Most had non-metastatic disease (80%). H-MST was found in 28%—most commonly in upper (58%) and lower GI (42%), and thoracic (42%) tumors. L-MST was most common in breast (90%). Multivariable regression confirmed that Black race (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.5–2.4,
p
= < 0.001), cancer primary site (OR 1.6–5.7,
p
= < 0.001), stage IV disease (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.4–2.2,
p
= < 0.001), low BMI (OR 4.2, 95% CI 2.5–6.9
p
= < 0.001), and higher symptom scores were all independently associated with H-MST.
Conclusions
Twenty-eight percent of solid tumor oncology patients at diagnosis were at high risk of malnutrition. Patients with breast cancer rarely had malnutrition risk at diagnosis. Significant variation was found in malnutrition risk by cancer site, stage, race, and presence of depression, distress, fatigue, and trouble eating/swallowing.
Clinical experience suggests that many symptoms occur together. In this paper, we examine the rationale and evidence base for symptom clusters in different medical fields, particularly the cluster ...phenomenon in cancer. Cancer symptom clusters are a reality. Various symptoms that cluster clinically have also been verified statistically. Specific clusters such as nausea—vomiting, anxiety—depression, and cough—dyspnea are evident on both clinical observation and in research investigation. Fatigue—pain and fatigue—insomnia—pain have also been demonstrated statistically as clusters. Another proposed cluster ‘depression—fatigue—pain’ seems relevant to clinical practice. Other clusters may serve only as theoretical models that illustrate possible common biological etiologies in cancer; they need to be validated in future research. Analysis of the literature is complicated by considerable inconsistencies across studies. Discrepancies between clinically defined and statistically obtained clusters raise important questions. We must consider the analytical techniques used, and how methodology might influence cluster occurrence and composition. Further research is warranted to establish universally accepted statistical methods and assessment tools for symptom cluster research.
Iodine has long been recognized as an essential micronutrient for maternal thyroid function, as well as fetal growth and development during pregnancy. The current study aimed to evaluate thyroid ...hormone status, urinary iodine concentration (UIC), thyroid volume, and nodularity in pregnant women, throughout trimesters, in a borderline iodine sufficient, urban area with mandatory table salt iodization. Two-hundred-sixty-five pregnant women ranging from 17 to 45 years participated in this prospective longitudinal study. Thyroid function tests, thyroid volume, nodule growth, and UIC were recorded throughout the first, second, and third trimesters with no intervention. Median UIC was 96, 78, and 60 µg/L in the first, second, and third trimester of pregnancy, respectively (
p
< 0.001). Mean TSH values increased significantly (i.e. 0.65 mIU/ml, 1.1 mIU/ml, and 1.3 mIU/ml in the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively) (
p
< 0.001). Mean ± s.d. thyroid volume was significantly higher in the third trimester (14.72 ± 6.8 ml) compared with the first trimester (13.69 ± 5.31 ml) (
p
< 0.001). An intensifying iodine deficiency (ID) was reported throughout trimesters in this cohort of pregnant women from Ankara. A significant percentage of pregnant women from a borderline iodine sufficient, urban area in Turkey were iodine deficient during all trimesters, and the deficiency increased throughout the pregnancy. Pregnant women should receive iodine supplementation, besides consuming iodized salt in borderline iodine sufficient areas.
Endogenous estrogens have been associated with overall breast cancer risk, particularly for postmenopausal women, and ways to reduce these estrogens have served as a primary means to decrease overall ...risk. This narrative review of clinical studies details how various nutritional and exercise lifestyle interventions have been used to modify estrogen levels and metabolism to provide a protective impact against breast cancer incidence. We also summarized the evidence supporting the efficacy of interventions, outcomes of interest and identified emerging research themes. A systematic PubMed MEDLINE search identified scholarly articles or reviews published between 2000-2020 that contained either a cohort, cross-sectional, or interventional study design and focused on the relationships between diet and/or exercise and overall levels of different forms of estrogen and breast cancer risk and occurrence. Screening and data extraction was undertaken by two researchers. Data synthesis was narrative due to the heterogeneous nature of studies. A total of 1625 titles/abstracts were screened, 198 full texts reviewed; and 43 met eligibility criteria. Of the 43 studies, 28 were randomized controlled trials, and 15 were observational studies. Overall, studies that incorporated both diet and exercise interventions demonstrated better control of detrimental estrogen forms and levels and thus likely represent the best strategies for preventing breast cancer development for postmenopausal women. Some of the strongest associations included weight loss
diet and diet + exercise interventions, reducing alcohol consumption, and consuming a varied dietary pattern, similar to the Mediterranean diet. More research should be done on the effects of specific nutritional components on endogenous estrogen levels to understand the effect that the components have on their own and in combination within the diet.
In this paper, we first examined whether seven symptom clusters (SC) identified in a prior analysis were prognostic for survival in advanced cancer. Secondly, we investigated whether the number of ...these SC present was related to prognosis.
Abstract Context Statistical methods to identify symptom clusters (SC) have varied between studies. The optimal statistical method to identify SC is unknown. Objectives Our primary objective was to ...explore whether eight different statistical techniques applied to a single data set produced different SC. A secondary objective was to investigate whether SC identified by these techniques resembled those from our original study. Methods We reanalyzed a symptom data set of 1000 patients with advanced cancer. Eight separate cluster analyses were conducted on both prevalence and severity of 38 symptoms. Hierarchical cluster analysis identified clusters at r -values of 0.6, 0.5, and 0.4. For prevalence and severity, the Spearman correlation and Kendall tau-b correlation, respectively, measured the similarity (distance) between symptom pairs. Sensitivity analysis of the prevalence data was done with Cohen kappa coefficient as a similarity measure. The K -means clustering method validated clusters. Results Hierarchical cluster analysis identified similar cluster configurations from the 38 symptoms using an r -value of 0.6, 0.5, or 0.4. A cutoff point of 0.6 yielded seven clusters. Five of them were identical at all three r -values used: 1) fatigue/anorexia-cachexia: anorexia, dry mouth, early satiety, fatigue, lack of energy, taste changes, weakness, and weight loss (>10%); 2) gastrointestinal: belching, bloating, dyspepsia, and hiccough; 3) nausea/vomiting: nausea and vomiting; 4) aerodigestive: cough, dysphagia, dyspnea, hoarseness, and wheeze; 5) neurologic: confusion, hallucinations, and memory problems. Regardless of the threshold, there were always some symptoms (e.g., pain) that did not cluster with any others. Seven clusters were validated by K -means analysis. Conclusion Seven SC identified from both prevalence and severity data were consistently present irrespective of the statistical analysis used. There were only minor variations in the number of clusters and their symptom composition between analytical techniques. All seven clusters originally identified were confirmed. Four consistent SC were found in all analyses: aerodigestive, fatigue/anorexia-cachexia, nausea/vomiting, and upper GI. Our results support the clinical importance of the SC concept.
Purpose
Little is known about the use of palliative and hospice care and their impact on healthcare utilization near the end of life (EOL) in early-onset pancreatic cancer (EOPC).
Methods
Patients ...with EOPC (≤ 50 years) were identified using the institutional tumor registry for years 2011–2018, and demographic, clinical, and rates of referral to palliative and hospice services were obtained retrospectively. Predictors of healthcare utilization, defined as use of ≥ 1 emergency department (ED) visit or hospitalization within 30 days of death, place of death (non-hospital vs. hospital), and time from last chemotherapy administration prior to death, were assessed using descriptive, univariable, and multivariable analyses including chi-square and logistic regression models.
Results
A total of 112 patients with EOPC with a median age of 46 years (range, 29–50) were studied. Forty-four percent were female, 28% were Black, and 45% had metastatic disease. Fifty-seven percent received palliative care at a median of 7.8 weeks (range 0–265) following diagnosis. The median time between last chemotherapy and death was 7.9 weeks (range 0–102). Seventy-four percent used hospice services prior to death for a median of 15 days (range 0–241). Rate of healthcare utilization at the EOL was 74% in the overall population. Black race and late use of chemotherapy were independently associated with increase in ED visits/hospitalization and hospital place of death.
Conclusions
Although we observed early referrals to palliative care among patients with newly diagnosed EOPC, short duration of hospice enrollment and rates of healthcare utilization prior to death were substantial.
We determined the relationship between symptom severity and distress for multiple cancer symptoms, and examined patient demographic influences on severity and distress in advanced cancer. A ...Cochran—Armitage trend test determined whether symptom distress increased with severity. Chi-square, Fisher’s exact test and logistic regression analysis examined moderate/severe (‘clinically important’) and distressful symptoms by age (≤65 versus >65), gender, primary site group, and ECOG performance status. Forty-six symptoms were analyzed in 181 individuals. More than 50% of individuals with clinically important symptoms rated them as distressful. The median percentage of individuals with mild but still distressful symptoms was 25%, with a range of 0% (bad dreams) to 73% (sore mouth). In both univariate and multivariate analysis, younger (≤65 years) patients, females, and those with poor performance status had more clinically important and a higher prevalence of distressful symptoms (only anxiety was more frequently distressful to older individuals). Clinically important symptoms and two of those considered distressful varied by primary site group. After control for severity, symptom distress did not differ by primary site group. The prevalence of distress increased with greater symptom severity. Younger individuals, those with poor performance status, and females had greater symptom severity and distress. Mild symptoms were often distressful. After adjustment for severity, age, gender, and performance status all influenced symptom distress.
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