Symptoms and Prognoses of Patients With Breast Cancer and Malignant Wounds in Palliative Care Units: The Multicenter, Prospective, Observational EASED Study

Abstract

Background This study sought to investigate the symptoms and prognoses of patients with breast cancer and malignant wounds in the palliative care unit setting. Methods This study was a sub-group analysis of a multicenter, prospective, observational study. Patients admitted to 23 palliative care units in Japan between January and December 2017 were enrolled. Data of patients with breast cancer were extracted. We compared demographic characteristics, symptoms, and prognoses by breast cancer malignant wound status. The primary outcome was overall survival. Secondary outcomes included Palliative Prognostic Index (PPI) score, malignant wound characteristics, and symptom burden. Results Of 1896 patients, 131 (6.9%) had breast cancer. In this cohort, 44 (33.6%) patients had malignant wounds. Most malignant wounds (88%) were on the back and chest. Malignant wounds were associated with skin redness, erosion, necrosis, or fistula. Symptoms included bleeding, exudate, odor, and pain. Twenty-eight patients (63.6%) needed dressing changes and 14 (31.8%) patients experienced bleeding. None died due to bleeding. In the malignant wounds group, 32 (72.8%) patients had used an opioid dose equivalent to 38 mg of oral morphine daily, compared to 25 mg by 57 (65.5%) patients in the non-malignant wounds group ( P = .26). Median PPI scores at hospital admission were 4.5 vs 6.5 ( P = .08). Median survival was 23 vs 21 days ( P = .48). Conclusions Patients with malignant wounds had a distinct symptom burden profile and tended to use a higher dose of opioids. The effect of malignant wounds on survival was unclear.