Association between feeling of well-being and overall survival in advanced lung or non-colonic gastrointestinal patients receiving palliative care.

Abstract

199 Background: The aim of this study was to determine the association between feeling of well-being (FWB, 0= best, 10= worst) and overall survival in advanced lung or non-colonic gastrointestinal patients who were referred to an outpatient palliative care clinic (OPC). We also determined the predictors of severity of moderate or severe - feeling of well-being in advanced lung or non-colonic gastrointestinal patients presenting to palliative care. Methods: We reviewed the records of consecutive patients with incurable advanced lung cancer and non-colonic gastrointestinal cancer presenting to OPC. Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) scores were obtained at the initial visit between from Jan. 1, 2008-Dec. 31, 2013. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patient characteristics. Clinically significant FWB was defined as ≥4/10. Overall Survival (OS) was calculated from the time of diagnosis of advanced cancer to death or last contact. Univariate analyses were performed and only significant variables were included in multivariate regression analysis to determine factors associated with severity OF FWB. Results: A total of 826 evaluable patients were analyzed (median age, 62 years; 57% male). Median ESAS FWB scores was 5 IQR (3-7). Worse FWB was significantly associated with OS (months) 6.33 (5.03, 8) vs 4.2 (3.37, 4.67) P=0.0003, from the time of diagnosis of advanced cancer. The final model of the Backwards Stepwise regression of factors associated with OS found that FWB (HR 1.09, p=0.3) was not an independent predictor of OS. ESAS FWB was significantly associated with ESAS fatigue (OR 2.31, p<0.001); anxiety (OR 1.98, p<0.001); anorexia (OR 2.31, p<0.001); CAGE positivity [alcoholism] (HR 1.80, p=0.008); and family distress (HR 1.93, p=0.002). Conclusions: Worse ESAS FWB showed univariate association with OS but it does not appear to be an independent predictor of OS when controlling for other known predictors. ESAS FWB was significantly associated with fatigue, anxiety, anorexia, CAGE positivity, and family distress, suggests that ESAS FWB may be a multidimensional screening measure for patient reported health related quality of life.