Investigation on quality of life of hospitalized patients in China with digestive system malignancy

Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the quality of life(QoL) of hospitalized patients in China suffering from digestive system malignancies and to identify potential risk factors for a decrease in QoL.Methods: The European Organization for Research and Treatment Core Quality of Life questionnaire(EORTC QLQ-C30) was applied to evaluate the QoL of 23,519 patients with six digestive malignancies(esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, biliary tract cancer, and pancreatic cancer). A t test or analysis of variance was employed to analyze the total EORTC QLQ-C30 scale scores and domain scores of the EORTC QLQ-C30 scale among patients in different subgroups.Results: The average QoL score was 50.4 ± 10.8. The tumor type, age, sex, and TNM stage al had an impact on QoL ratings. Colorectal cancer patients had a better total QoL score(49.3 ± 10.3) and scores in the domains of functioning, with milder symptoms, except for diarrhea. Patients with biliary tract cancer(54.2 ± 12.3) and pancreatic cancer(54.2 ± 12.3) reported a poorer QoL, significant functional impairment, and more pronounced symptoms. Patients with esophageal cancer experienced the most severe financial difficulties(35.2 ± 27.5). Patients aged ≥65 years, women, and those with TNM stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ reported lower QoL. In addition, the disparities in total QoL scores and scores in specific domains were significant among patients with some types of tumors, and based on ethnicity, educational level, occupation, treatment(s) received, and place of residence.Conclusions: There is a need to focus on elderly individuals, those with low educational levels, and patients with progressive malignant tumors and to improve routine disease monitoring and symptom management to enhance the quality of life for patients with malignancies of the digestive system.

Value of combining the serum D-lactate, diamine oxidase, and endotoxin levels to predict gut-derived infections in cancer patients

Objective:This is a retrospective observational cohort study.The objective of this retrospective observational cohort study was to evaluate the value of the combined serum D-lactic acid,diamine oxidase(DAO),and endotoxin levels to predict intestinal barrier impairment and gut-derived infection(GDI)in cancer patients.Methods:Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy or palliative care treatment at our hospital were enrolled in the study.The serum concentrations of DAO,D-lactic acid,and endotoxin were determined using the intestinal barrier function biochemical index analysis system.The patients'infection information came from the hospital's Medicom Prescription Automatic Screening System and themedical records.Three hundred fifty-three cancer patients were included in the study(53.8%female,73.7%cancer stage IV,27.8%had bowel obstruction).Results:The total incidence of GDI was 33.4%(118/353).The median length of hospital stay was 16 days for patients with GDI,compared with 7 days for patients without GDI(P<0.001).The media hospitalization costs were¥27,362.35 for patients with GDI compared with¥11,614.08 for patients without GDI(P<0.001).The serum concentrations of DAO,D-lactic acid,and endotoxin were significantly higher in patients with GDI.As malignant bowel obstruction(MBO)worsened,the concentrations of DAO,D-lactic acid,and endotoxin increased.Multivariate logistic regression models revealed that the DAO,endotoxin,IL-6,and C-reactive protein levels were significantly associated with an increased risk of GDI.In addition,we also found a fivefold increased risk of infection in patients withMBO compared with those without bowel obstruction(OR=6.210,P<0.001).All of the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUCs)for DAO,D-lactate,and endotoxin to predict GDI were<0.7(AUC=0.648,P<0.001;AUC=0.624,P<0.01;AUC=0.620,P<0.01,respectively).However,when the parameters were combined(DAO+D-lactate+endotoxin),the predictive power increased significantly(AUC=0.797,P<0.001).Moreover,combining these intestinal barrier indicators and the presence of MBO had better power to predict GDI than either alone(AUC=0.837,P<0.001).Conclusions:Combining the serum DAO,D-lactic acid,and endotoxin levels was a better predictor of GDI than any of the indicators alone,and combining these with the diagnosis of MBO could further improve the efficacy for predicting GDI.