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Quality of life and symptoms in patients with malignant diseases admitted to a comprehensive cancer centre

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Abstract

Purpose

Quality of life and symptomatology in patients with malignancies admitted to comprehensive cancer centres are rarely investigated. Thus, this study aimed to investigate symptomatology and health-related quality of life of inpatients with cancer.

Methods

A prospective, cross-sectional study was carried out on two occasions 5 weeks apart in haematology and oncology departments at a comprehensive cancer centre. Assessment included demographic data, WHO performance status (PS), EORTC QLQ-C30 and pain scales of brief pain inventory. Comparisons were analysed using Wilcoxon two-sample test, rank tests and Fisher’s exact test.

Results

One hundred twenty-four patients were analysed, mean age = 59 years (SD = 13.7), 42 % admitted to haematological department; lung cancer was the most frequent diagnosis (15 %). Low health-related quality of life and severe symptom burden, especially fatigue and appetite loss, were observed among the inpatients. In addition, role and social functions appeared to be more impaired in haematology patients than in those admitted to oncology (P = 0.0372 and 0.0167, respectively). On the other hand, pain and constipation were more severely affected in oncology patients (P = 0.0194 and 0.0064, respectively).

Conclusions

Patients in the wards of haematology and oncology had pronounced symptomatology and low quality of life. A more systematic focus on the amelioration of problems with functioning and symptoms among inpatients with malignant diseases is warranted.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, 5073 Finsen Centre, Rigshospitalet Copenhagen University Hospital, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

    Annette Sand Strömgren, Ulla Brix Tange, Lena Ankersen, Lisbet Kristensen & Mie Nordly

  2. Department of Haematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Carsten Utoft Niemann

  3. Section of Palliative Medicine, Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Hanne Farholt, Nan M. Sonne, Lisbeth Bendixen, Per Sjøgren & Geana Paula Kurita

  4. Department of Palliative Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Mogens Groenvold & Morten Aagaard Petersen

  5. Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Lona Christrup

  6. Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Mie Nordly & Per Sjøgren

  7. Multidisciplinary Pain Centre, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Geana Paula Kurita

Authors
  1. Annette Sand Strömgren
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  2. Carsten Utoft Niemann
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  3. Ulla Brix Tange
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  4. Hanne Farholt
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  7. Lisbet Kristensen
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  8. Lisbeth Bendixen
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  9. Mogens Groenvold
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  10. Morten Aagaard Petersen
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  11. Mie Nordly
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  12. Lona Christrup
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  13. Per Sjøgren
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  14. Geana Paula Kurita
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Annette Sand Strömgren.

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Strömgren, A.S., Niemann, C.U., Tange, U.B. et al. Quality of life and symptoms in patients with malignant diseases admitted to a comprehensive cancer centre. Support Care Cancer 22, 1843–1849 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2149-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2149-8

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