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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2009

Open Access 01-12-2009 | Research article

A proposed prognostic 7-day survival formula for patients with terminal cancer

Authors: Jui-Kun Chiang, Ning-Sheng Lai, Mei-Huang Wang, Shi-Chi Chen, Yee-Hsin Kao

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2009

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Abstract

Background

The ability to identify patients for hospice care results in better end-of-life care. To develop a validated prognostic scale for 7-day survival prediction, a prospective observational cohort study was made of patients with terminal cancer.

Methods

Patient data gathered within 24 hours of hospital admission included demographics, clinical signs and symptoms and their severity, laboratory test results, and subsequent survival data. Of 727 patients enrolled, data from 374 (training group) was used to develop a prognostic tool, with the other 353 serving as the validation group.

Results

Five predictors identified by multivariate logistic regression analysis included patient's cognitive status, edema, ECOG performance status, BUN and respiratory rate. A formula of the predictor model based on those five predictors was constructed. When probability was >0.2, death within 7 days was predicted in the training group and validation group, with sensitivity of 80.9% and 71.0%, specificity of 65.9% and 57.7%, positive predictive value of 42.6% and 26.8%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 91.7% and 90.1%, respectively.

Conclusion

This predictor model showed a relatively high sensitivity and NPV for predicting 7-day survival among terminal cancer patients, and could increase patient satisfaction by improving end-of-life care.
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Metadata
Title
A proposed prognostic 7-day survival formula for patients with terminal cancer
Authors
Jui-Kun Chiang
Ning-Sheng Lai
Mei-Huang Wang
Shi-Chi Chen
Yee-Hsin Kao
Publication date
01-12-2009
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2009
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-9-365

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