RESUMO
Cancer has become a global pandemic with disproportionately higher mortality rates in low- and middle- income countries, where a large fraction of patients present in advanced stages and in need of end-of-life care. Globally, the number of adults needing end-of-life care is greater than 19 million, and up to 78% of these patients are living in low- and middle- income countries. In the Americas alone, more than one million people are in need of end-of-life care, placing an enormous burden on local health systems, which are often unprepared to meet the challenge presented by this complex patient population. In Latin America, cancer care is characterized by the presence of vast inequalities between and within countries, and the provision of end-of-life care is no exception. Disparities in access to advanced care planning, with a lack of provision of adequate palliative care and pain medication, are common in the region. These shortcomings are related in large part to inadequate or inappropriate legislation, lack of comprehensive national palliative care plans, insufficient infrastructure, lack of opportunities for clinical training, unreliable reporting of data, and cultural barriers. This report reviews the current status of end-of-life care in Latin America, focusing on identifying existing deficiencies and providing a framework for improvement.
RESUMO
Introducción: El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar las características clínicas y pronóstico de los pacientes con Leucemia/Linfoma de Células T del Adulto (ATL) en el Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas (INEN) de Perú. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio transversal, que incluyó por Se revisaron 188 historias clínicas y estudio patológico de pacientes con infección por HTLV-1 diagnosticados en el INEN durante 10 años, de quienes 150 tuvieron ATL. Resultados: 62% de los pacientes tuvieron el subtipo ATL linfoma, 37% subtipo agudo y 1% crónico. La mediana de edad fue 53 años (20-89); 51% fueron mujeres. Dentro de las características clínicas: ECOG ≥ 2 (56%); estadio clínico III-IV (80%), síntomas B (58%); incremento de la deshidrogenasa láctica, LDH, (74%); leucocitosis (50%); hipercalcemia (46%) y anemia (36%). 122 pacientes (81,3%) recibieron tratamiento, 79% con quimioterapia (QT) y 4,6% radioterapia complementaria (RT); CHOP fue el esquema de QT más frecuente (89%). De los pacientes con QT tuvieron 18% RC, 32% RP, 7% EE y 13% PE. Conclusión: En este reporte en pacientes con ATL, la forma linfoma es el subtipo más frecuente, existe alta prevalencia de inmunofenotipo atípico y pobre respuesta al CHOP.
Introduction: The objective of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics and progno-sis of patients with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) at the National Institute of Neoplastic Diseases (INEN) of Peru. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out, which included 188 clinical histories and a pathological study of patients diagnosed with HTLV-1 infection diagnosed at the INEN for ten years, of whom 150 had ATL. Results: Sixty-two percent of the patients had the ATL lymphoma subtype, 37% had the acute sub-type, and 1% had the chronic subtype. The median age was 53 (20-89); 51% were women. Within the clinical characteristics: ECOG ≥ 2 (56%); clinical stage III-IV (80%), symptoms B (58%); increased lactic dehydrogenase, LDH, (74%); leukocytosis (50%); hypercalcemia (46%) and anemia (36%). A total of 122 patients (81.3%) received treatment, 79% with chemotherapy (CT) and 4.6% with complementary radiotherapy (RT); CHOP was the most frequent QT regimen (89%). Of the patients with QT, 18% had CR, 32% PR, 7% EE, and 13% PE. Conclusion: In this report, in patients with ATL, the lymphoma form was the most frequent subtype, and there was a high prevalence of atypical immunophenotype and poor response to CHOP.