Characteristics of patients with breathlessness - results of the german hospice and palliative care evaluation
Simon ST, Altfelder N, Alt-Epping B, Bausewein C, Weingaertner V, Voltz R, Ostgathe C, Radbruch L, Lindena G, Nauck F (2016)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2016
Journal
Book Volume: 141
Pages Range: e87-95
Journal Issue: 10
Abstract
Breathlessness is a common and distressing symptom in patients with advanced life-limiting disease. The aim of this study was to describe demographical and clinical characteristics of patients with breathlessness in Germany.We conducted a secondary analysis of hospice and palliative care inpatient data from 2006 to 2008. The Hospice and Palliative Care Evaluation (HOPE) is an annual prospective German survey, that includes a validated 16-item symptom-and-problem checklist (severity score 0-3). Characteristics of patients with or without breathlessness were compared in a pure descriptive manner. Interpretation of given p-values takes the error inflation due to multiple testing into account.Breathlessness was recorded in 2860/5320 (53.8 %) patients (mean age 67.2 years (SD 12.4), 51.4 % female, 93.6 % malignant disease (female / male lung cancer 15.7/29.5 %, breast cancer 20.3/0.3 %, colon 10.3/8.7 %)). Breathless patients compared with those without breathless ness had a significantly worse functional status (ECOG 3-4: 78.4 % vs. 70.8 %, p < 0.001), suffered from a larger number (11.1 vs. 9.5, p < 0.001) of symptoms and the symptoms were of higher intensity (except confusion). Breathless patients had a higher risk to die during inpatient stay (43.5 % vs. 32.4 %, p < 0.001).Based on this large sample of hospice and palliative care inpatients, breathlessness is associated with a high symptom burden and shortened survival. Breathless patients need more attention in health care.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
Universitätsklinikum Köln
Germany (DE)
Universitätsklinikum Göttingen
Germany (DE)
Klinikum der Universität München (Großhadern und Innenstadt)
Germany (DE)
Universitätsklinikum Bonn
Germany (DE)
CLARA Klinische Forschung
Germany (DE)
Germany (DE)
Universitätsklinikum Göttingen
Germany (DE)
Klinikum der Universität München (Großhadern und Innenstadt)
Germany (DE)
Universitätsklinikum Bonn
Germany (DE)
CLARA Klinische Forschung
Germany (DE)
How to cite
APA:
Simon, S.T., Altfelder, N., Alt-Epping, B., Bausewein, C., Weingaertner, V., Voltz, R.,... Nauck, F. (2016). Characteristics of patients with breathlessness - results of the german hospice and palliative care evaluation. Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift, 141(10), e87-95. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-106678
MLA:
Simon, S. T., et al. "Characteristics of patients with breathlessness - results of the german hospice and palliative care evaluation." Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift 141.10 (2016): e87-95.
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