Abstract
Background Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) is a widely-used tool for measuring performance status of patients in palliative care settings. PPS is also known as a good prognostic tool for estimating survival. Recently, there were some studies announcing possibility of changes in PPS score as a prognostic tool. We aimed to investigate if a decrease in PPS score during 1 week predicts survival in advanced cancer patients of South Korea. Methods This study was prospective cohort study. Subjects were 73 patients admitted in Chungnam National University Hospital, South Korea from August 2015 till January 2016. PPS was measured at admission and 1 week later. Survival time was calculated as days from enrollment to death during admission. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were drawn for 3 groups (0%, < 50%, ≥ 50% decrease comparing initial PPS score). Cox regression analysis was performed after adjusting age, sex, diagnosis, treatment history and initial PPS score. Results Survival times of 0%, < 50% and ≥ 50% decrease comparing initial PPS score were 27.00±7.85, 14.00±3.73 and 10.00±1.35 days, respectively (p < 0.001). Differences in survival times was still significant in subgroup analysis, i.e. in initial PPS score 10-30 and 40-50 groups. When compared to 0% decrease, < 50% decrease and ≥ 50% decrease increased hazard ratio 2.83 (95% CI, 1.06-7.56) and 22.72 (95% CI, 6.33-81.50), respectively. Conclusions The greater decrease in PPS score during 1 week predicts the shorter survival time. Legal entity responsible for the study N/A Funding Chungnam National University Hospital Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
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