Características de la anemia en los pacientes oncológicos en tratamiento paliativo

Abstract

ObjectiveTo study anaemia in cancer patients as well as the type of treatment used in a Palliative Care Unit (PCU). Patients and methodDescriptive, prospective observational study of patients admitted to the General University Hospital PCU of Ciudad Real during a one year follow up (June 2010-2011) who had an anaemic syndrome. The study protocol included epidemiological data, type of tumour, and the treatment received for anaemia. Control of symptoms was measured with the ESAS scale, and patient survival with the PaP Score scale. ResultsThe unit admitted 208 patients during the study period, of whom 65 (31.2%) were included. Of these, 37 (57%) were male and 28 (43%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 70.5 years. The reason for admission was anaemic syndrome in 7 (10.8%) of the cases. The most common type of tumour was gastrointestinal 25 (38.5%), followed by urological 15 (23.1%), and lung 14 (21.5%). The most common aetiology was receiving previous chemotherapy, followed by chronic disorders, folic acid and iron deficiency. In 19 (29.2%) cases the aetiology was multifactorial, and in 16 (24.6%) unknown. Forty-two treatments were administered to 22 (33.8%) patients: 15 with folic acid, 13 with iron, 12 transfusions of red blood cells, and 2 with vitamin B12. According to the PaP Score, 38.4% of patients were in group A, 44.6%, in group B, and 17% in group C. ConclusionsThe anaemia in cancer patients receiving palliative treatment is of various aetiologies.