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Supportive Care in Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer 8/2012

01-08-2012 | Review Article

Emergency department visits for symptoms experienced by oncology patients: a systematic review

Authors: Amanda Digel Vandyk, Margaret B. Harrison, Gail Macartney, Amanda Ross-White, Dawn Stacey

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 8/2012

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this review was to explore the range and prevalence of cancer treatment or disease-related symptoms in the emergency department and their associated outcomes.

Methods

A systematic review examined studies cited in Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL published from 1980 to July 2011. Eligible studies measured emergency department visits for symptom assessment in adult oncology patients. Two reviewers independently screened citations and double data extraction was used. Descriptive analysis was conducted.

Results

Of 1,298 citations, six prospective and 12 retrospective descriptive studies were included. Of these, eight focused on multiple symptoms and 10 targeted specific symptoms. The studies were published between 1995 and 2011, conducted in seven countries, and had a median sample size of 143 (range 9–27,644). Of the 28 symptoms reported, the most common were febrile neutropenia, infection, pain, fever, and dyspnea. Definitions provided for individual symptoms were inconsistent. Of 16 studies reporting admission rates, emergency visits resulted in hospital admissions 58 % (median) of the time in multi-symptom studies (range 31 % to 100 %) and 100 % (median) of the time in targeted symptoms studies (range 39 % to 100 %). Of 11 studies reporting mortality rates, 13 % (median) of emergency visits captured in multi-symptom studies (range 1 % to 56 %) and 20 % (median) of visits in targeted symptoms studies (range 4 % to 67 %) resulted in death.

Conclusions

Individuals with cancer present to emergency departments with a myriad of symptoms. Over half of emergency department visits resulted in hospital admissions. Few symptoms were defined adequately to compare data across studies, thereby revealing an important gap in cancer symptom reporting.
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Metadata
Title
Emergency department visits for symptoms experienced by oncology patients: a systematic review
Authors
Amanda Digel Vandyk
Margaret B. Harrison
Gail Macartney
Amanda Ross-White
Dawn Stacey
Publication date
01-08-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 8/2012
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-012-1459-y

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