Factors connected with anxiety and other neuropsychiatric symptoms in advanced gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of study was to determine factors connected with neuropsychiatric symptoms and anxiety in patients with terminal stomach cancer. METHODS: We analysed retrospectively 134 terminal stomach cancer patients admitted to Palliative Care Unit. RESULTS: Patients with anxiety had a greater chance for emergency admission, higher Numerical Rating Scale result, occurrence of cachexia and neuropsychiatric symptoms, longer duration of treatment, higher albumin concentration and lower glucose concentration.Patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms had greater chance for emergency admission, higher Performance Status scale note, occurrence of dyselectrolytemia, lower albumin concentration. Patients with those symptoms had more than 7 times greater chance for death. CONCLUSION: It is important to know factors connected with neuropsychiatric symptoms and anxiety because thanks to that we could avoid those dangerous clinical symptoms.

Prognostic factors, symptoms and consequences of dehydration and dyselectrolytemia in patients with terminal stomach cancer.

BACKGROUND: Dyselectrolytaemia and dehydration are common symptoms in people with terminal stomach cancer. AIMS: To determine factors related to dyselectrolytemia and dehydration in patients with terminal stomach cancer. METHODS: An analysis of 134 patients with terminal stomach cancer admitted to the palliative care unit was conducted, through an audit of the patients' medical records. The average age of women was 63.1 years and that of men was 64.9 years. FINDINGS: Dehydrated patients were more likely to: have dyselectrolytaemia; have a higher PS scale score; be taking opioids as an analgesic; have a high sodium concentration; experience dyspnoea, constipation, nausea and vomiting during hospitalisation; and require glucocorticoids administration both during and before hospitalisation. Patients with dyselectrolytaemia were more likely to: be admitted to the palliative care unit from the emergency department; experience cachexia and dehydration during hospitalisation and constipation at discharge; have a lower albumin level; and have a higher glucose level. Patients with dyselectrolytaemia also had a shorter duration of treatment and a 2.48 greater chance for death compared with those who did not have it. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the adverse factors connected with dehydration and dyselectrolytaemia will allow health professionals to avoid dangerous clinical symptoms and prolong the life of those with terminal stomach cancer, as they might be able to foresee the occurrence of these conditions based on the medication the patient has been taking and symptoms they have been experiencing. Nurses will have a greater understanding of the importance of fluid therapy to resolve ionic disturbances and the need to address dehydration and dyselectrolytemia as a means to prolong and improve quality of life.

Evaluation of prognostic factors, symptoms and consequences of dehydration in patients with cancer based on retrospective data analysis of 102 patients treated in the Department of Palliative Medicine at the University Hospital in Cracow - preliminary report.

INTRODUCTION: Dehydration is a common problem in patients with terminal cancer patients. It worsens the quality of life and increases the amount of complications. Factors associated with dehydration need further exploration. The aim of our study was to determine the predictors of dehydration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 102 terminal cancer patients admitted to Palliative Care Unit were retrospectively analyzed. Detailed physical examination, medical history including history taken from family and care givers was taken upon admission. Laboratory parameters including morphology, sodium, potassium, total and ionized calcium, LDH were taken on admission. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine factors associated with dehydration. RESULTS: On admission 39% of patients were diagnosed with dehydration. Multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjustment for possible confounders reviled that lack of family care (p = 0.006; OR = 0.147; CI 95% = 0.038-0.577), higher level of PS (p = 0.0426; OR = 1.65; CI 95% = 1.017-2.667), lack of prior opioid use (p = 0.0233; OR = 0.386; CI 95% = 0.17-0.897), occurrence of nausea and vomiting at admission (p = 0.0077; OR = 3.297; CI 95% = 1.372-7.922), occurrence of dyselectrolytemia (p = 0.0012; OR = 4.462; CI 95% = 1.81-10.997), lack of prior GKS use (p = 0.0362; OR = 0.339; CI 95% = 0.123-0.933); lack of prior NSAID use (p = 0.0255; OR = 0.265; CI 95% = 0.082-0.849) remained independently associated with dehydration. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of family care, lack of prior opioid use, higher level of PS, occurrence of nausea and vomiting at admission, occurrence of dyselectrolytemia, lack of prior GKS use and lack of prior NSAID use in patients with terminal cancer are factors associated with dehydration.