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- Title
A retrospective analysis of the factors associated with hypercalcaemia in patients with advanced cancer.
- Authors
Wu, C.‐Y.; Huang, C.‐J.; Chiu, Y.‐W.; Huang, C.‐T.; Chuang, H.‐Y.
- Abstract
Hypercalcaemia, a common complication of advanced cancer, causes multiple clinical symptoms, deteriorates patients' quality of life, and is associated with poor prognoses. This study aimed to identify the factors that may be associated with hypercalcaemia in advanced cancer by retrospectively reviewing the medical records of patients ( n = 404) admitted to the palliative ward of the Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan, from 2006 to 2008. Patients' demographics, clinical data and symptoms were recorded. Seventy-nine of 404 patients had hypercalcaemia (19.6%), predominant in cases of head-and-neck cancer and haematological malignancies ( P < 0.05), but not in those of bone metastases. Hypercalcaemia was associated with consciousness disturbances and leucocytosis ( P < 0.05). We recommend that ionised (corrected) calcium levels be monitored clinically in patients with advanced cancer especially when consciousness disturbances are noted, or when head-and-neck or haematological malignancies are present. Testing of free calcium levels is also recommended in patients with leucocytosis.
- Subjects
TAIWAN; CHI-squared test; CONFIDENCE intervals; HEAD tumors; HYPERCALCEMIA; NECK tumors; PALLIATIVE treatment; QUALITY of life; RESEARCH funding; STATISTICS; T-test (Statistics); LOGISTIC regression analysis; RETROSPECTIVE studies; SEVERITY of illness index; DATA analysis software; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; ODDS ratio; DISEASE complications; PROGNOSIS
- Publication
European Journal of Cancer Care, 2014, Vol 23, Issue 5, p695
- ISSN
0961-5423
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/ecc.12161