Presentation, treatment, and analysis of prognostic factors of terminally ill patients with gastrointestinal tumors

Abstract

Background: Few data have been published about terminally ill patients with gastrointestinal tumors treated in palliative care units.

Patients and methods: We analyzed the data of 737 admissions of 435 patients that were treated in a palliative care unit, and tried to identify prognostic factors for survival.

Results: Most frequent diagnoses at admission were colorectal, gastric, esophageal, and pancreatic cancer. Major clinical symptoms were pain (66.9%), anorexia (60.8%), weight loss (39.2%), and nausea/vomiting (36.6%). In 71.6% of the patients, morphine derivatives were administered. In 33.0% of cases, red blood cell transfusions were applied, parenteral nutrition was given in 31.3%. Median survival, calculated from the day of first hospitalization, was 35 days. On univariate analysis, several clinical and laboratory parameters were identified as prognostically important factors. In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, 5 parameters were significant: ascites and anorexia, elevated leukocyte count and lactate dehydrogenase activity, as well as decreased albumine levels. Using these parameters, patients were divided into 3 risk groups: low-risk (presence of 0-1 factors), intermediate risk (2-3 factors), and poor-risk patients (4-5 factors). Median survival for poor-risk patients was 18 days, intermediate- and low-risk patients survived 43 and 136 days, respectively (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: In multivariate analysis, 5 prognostic factors were identified, and 3 patient groups were defined. After multicenter validation, these factors may help to guide treatment decisions in terminally ill patients with gastrointestinal tumors.