Elsevier

Lung Cancer

Volume 80, Issue 2, May 2013, Pages 203-208
Lung Cancer

The lung cancer patient at the emergency department: A three-year retrospective study

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lungcan.2012.12.006Get rights and content

Abstract

Introduction

Currently, there are limited data on the lung cancer patient at the emergency department. Our objective is to review the medical charts of those patients to determine the frequency and main causes of emergency consultations and the predicting factors for hospital admissions and deaths.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study including all patients with lung cancer consulting at the emergency department of a cancer hospital.

Results

From January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010, 269 patients with lung cancer presented at the emergency, corresponding to 548 consultations (8.3% of all 6575 visits). During the same period, 626 patients for lung cancer were treated in our institution meaning that 43% of them are consulting at least once the emergency department during the course of their disease. The main reasons for consultation were respiratory symptoms (22.3%) and fever (19.9%). Emergency visit leads to hospital admission in 63% of the cases. In multivariate analysis, the main independent predictor factor of hospitalisation is arrival by ambulance (odd ratio 12), which is also the principal predictor of death during hospitalisation (odd ratio 9.5). The presence of signs at physical examination is also an important factor.

Conclusion

Our study shows that emergency visit is a frequent event for lung cancer patients and has identified simple factors predicting hospitalisation and deaths.

Introduction

Cancer patients can have multiple complications related to cancer and its treatment [1], [2], [3]. These events may lead them to the emergency department [4], [5], [6], [7], [8]. A recent systematic review on the topic has been reported [9]. There is so far no specific study for lung cancer patients.

The aim of the present study was to determine the rate of lung cancer patients using the emergency department, to report the various reasons for consultation and their relative frequency and to identify predictive factors for admission and death during hospitalisation.

Section snippets

Patients and methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of all patients with lung cancer presenting to the emergency department of a European cancer hospital, between January 1st 2008 and December 31st 2010. The study was approved by the local ethical committee.

All patients consulting at the emergency department were prospectively recorded and the data were retrospectively retrieved from the computerized charts. For each patient, age, gender, comorbid conditions (chronic obstructive pulmonary

Results

During the study period, there were 6575 visits at the emergency department. A total of 548 (8.3%) dealt with lung cancer (269 patients). The median number of consultations per patient was 2 (range 1–9). During the same period of time, 619 patients with lung cancer were followed in the Thoracic Oncology Unit, which means that 43% of these patients visited at least once the emergency department.

There were 169 men and 100 women, with a median age of 61 years (range 29–86). Histology included 232

Discussion

Our study shows that about 40% of lung cancer patients are consulting at the emergency department at least once during the course of their disease. The main reasons of consultation are respiratory symptoms and fever. A relationship with lung cancer or its treatment is found in more than 65% and emergency visit leads to hospital admission in more than 60% of the cases. Arrival by ambulance is the principal predictive factor for hospitalisation and death during hospitalisation.

A few studies have

Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

References (18)

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