Patterns of Cancer Diagnoses Referred to Palliative Medicine in a TertiaryHospital in Dammam - Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Identification of epidemiological patterns of cancer diagnoses in a health care practice is considered a baseline in assessing needs, planning health services and assess control measures. Aim of Study: To identify epidemiological characteristics and diagnoses of cancer patients referred to palliative care at a tertiary care center. Methodology: Chart review of electronic medical records of patients referred to palliative medicine service at tertiary Hospital in Dammam, between January 2014 and June 2016. Results: Cancer colon, cancer breast & lung canceroccupy the highest proportions among patients referred to palliative care. The proportion of patients with cancer colon referred to palliative care showed a slight decline from 2014 to 2016 (17.3%, 10.4% and 11.5%, respectively), while that for cancer breast showed a slight increase (15.9%, 15.7% and 18.4%, respectively). Toxicity among palliative patients admitted to palliative care service decreased from 12.9% in 2014 to 5.3% in 2015. Most cancer patients admitted to palliative care during 2014 till 2016 could be maintained at no pain levels during their treatment period. However, some patients had exhausting pain, with decreasing proportions from 2014 till 2016 (6.7%, 5.1% and 4.3%, respectively). About half of cancer patients referred to palliative care discharged alive from the unit (45.5%, 43.3% and 38.4%, respectively) compared to those dead in the unit (15.4%, 21.8% and 27.3%, respectively) Conclusions: The highest proportions of cancer patients referred to palliative care are related to colon, breast, lung and pancreas. Control of pain and treatment toxicity is quite successful, whilemost of the patients included in the study who were referred to palliative care discharged home alive compared to those dead in the unit. Recommendations: Exploring the magnitude, pattern and other epidemiological aspects in relation to cancer cases for palliative patient should be extended for the coming years and to investigate the reasons that would explain the high proportions of certain types of cancer among patients referred palliative care unit.