Comorbidities and its relation to performance status and estimated survival rate among cancer patients

• Published in: Journal of Research in Pharmacy Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 304 - 314
• Main Authors: PARTHASARATHY, Rama, MATHEW, Sangeetha, JOHN, Subash, KANDA KUMAR, Vignesh, VEINTRAMUTHU, Sankar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Istanbul Marmara University 01.01.2019
• Subjects: Cancer; Comorbidity
• ISSN: 2630-6344; 2630-6344
• DOI: 10.12991/jrp.2019.138

Many studies report the presence of comorbidities, which have a consequential impact on the management and survival of cancer patients. The aim of the present study is to assess the prevalence of comorbidities and their influence on overall management, estimated survival, and performance of cancer patients. A hospital based prospective study was conducted at a multi-specialty teaching hospital for a period of 10 months. Out of a sample of 140 cancer patients, 70 were diagnosed with comorbidities. Estimated survival rates and comorbidity scores were assessed using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Performance scores were observed using the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score. CCI and performance score were statistically analyzed by SPSS Version 19. Hypertension (40%) was the leading comorbidity, followed by diabetes (25.71%). Those women with high (>5) CCI score (57.14%, p=0.04) had significantly decreased estimated survival rates of less than or equal to 2 months compared to those having less than (<) 2 CCI score and who reached estimated survival rates of more than or equal to 7 months. The performance score (2.065±0.81) was significantly (P=0.0001) increased after treatment of the comorbidity compared to the performance score (1.125±1.27) of patients without comorbidity. Only alkylating agents (cyclophosphamide p=0.003, Carboplatin & Oxaliplatin p= 0.007, Cisplatin p= 0.0001), and folic acid analogues (Leucovorin p=0.01) showed significant differences in the management of cancer between groups. This study suggests that breast cancer is associated with increased comorbidity burden compared to other types of cancer. Also, comorbidity is associated with overall decreased estimated survival rate and performance status among cancer patients.