Chapter 5 98 Table 1. Patient and disease characteristics of patients with advanced cancer visiting the emergency department (continued) Total (n=245) NS-patients (n=203) S-patients (n=42) P-value Anti-cancer treatment in preceding 3 monthsb, n (%) Local treatmentc, n (%) 69 (28.2) 59 (29.1) 10 (23.8) 0.49 Systemic treatmentd, n (%) 174 (71.0) 146 (71.9) 28 (66.7) 0.50 None 41 (16.7) 33 (16.3) 8 (19.0) 0.66 Informal caregiver available, n (%) 205 (83.7) 168 (82.8) 37 (88.1) 0.59 Homecare, n (%) 36 (14.7) 36 (17.7) 0 (0.0) 0.039 PCCT consulted in preceding 3 months, n (%) 12 (4.9) 11 (5.4) 1 (2.4) 0.70 Number of ED-visits in the preceding 6 months, n (%) 0.88 0 ED-visits 155 (68.3) 128 (63.1) 27 (64.3) ≥1 ED-visit 90 (36.7) 75 (36.9) 15 (35.7) Limitations on LSTs discussed and documented, n (%) 64 (26.1) 62 (30.5) 2 (4.8) <0.0001 Main symptom, n (%) Pain 53 (21.6) 43 (21.2) 10 (23.8) 0.71 Nausea or vomiting 27 (11.0) 25 (12.3) 2 (4.8) 0.19 Constipation 4 (1.6) 4 (2.0) 0 >0.999 Neurologic deterioration or delirium 1 (0.4) 1 (0.5) 0 >0.999 Weakness, loss of strength 7 (2.9) 5 (2.5) 2 (4.8) 0.34 Dyspnoea 34 (13.9) 31 (15.3) 3 (7.1) 0.14 Bleeding or blood loss 19 (7.8) 16 (7.9) 3 (7.1) >0.999 Fever 48 (19.6) 38 (18.7) 10 (23.8) 0.46 Fatigue 1 (0.4) 1 (0.5) 0 >0.999 Diarrhoea 6 (2.4) 6 (3.0) 0 0.59 Oedema 6 (2.4) 5 (2.5) 1 (2.4) >0.999 Feeling unwell 18 (7.3) 13 (6.4) 5 (11.9) 0.21 Other 14 (5.7) 10 (4.9) 4 (9.5) 0.27 Referral for newe symptom, n (%) 99 (40.4) 68 (33.5) 31 (73.8) 0.001 Referral for acutef symptom, n (%) 88 (35.9) 66 (32.5) 22 (52.4) 0.29 Number of symptoms, median (range) 2 (0-7) 2 (1-4) 2 (1-3) 0.030 ECOG performance status, n (%) 0.034 ECOG 0-2 151 (61.6) 119 (58.6) 32 (76.2) ECOG 3-4 90 (36.7) 81 (39.9) 9 (21.4) Unknown 4 (1.6) 3 (1.5) 1 (2.4) ED-visit outside office hours, n (%) 107 (43.7) 93 (45.8) 14 (33.3) 0.13 a other tumours (n=45): skin (19, 42.2%); sarcoma (12, 26.7); (retro-)peritoneum (5, 11.1%); eye (3, 6.7%); thymus (2, 4.4%); unknown primary (2, 4.4%); brain (1, 2.2%); ear, nose, throat (1, 2.2%). b total number can exceed 100%, as patients can have undergone more than 1 treatment. c local treatment: surgery, nuclear therapy, radiotherapy. d systemic treatment: chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, stem cell transplantation, targeted-/immunotherapy. e “new”: not mentioned in electronic patient record in previous 6 months. f “acute”: onset <24 hours. List of abbreviations: NS: not surprised; S: surprised; PCCT: palliative care consultation team; ED: emergency department; LSTs: life-sustaining treatments
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