Objective: Distress among cancer patients has been broadly accepted as an important indicator of well-being but has not been well studied. We investigated patient characteristics associated with high distress levels as well as correlations among measures of patient-reported distress and "objective" stress-related biomarkers among colorectal cancer patients.
Methods: In total, 238 patients with colon or rectal cancer completed surveys including the Distress Thermometer, Problem List, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. We abstracted demographic and clinical information from patient charts and determined salivary cortisol level and imaging-based sarcopenia. We evaluated associations between patient characteristics (demographics, clinical factors, and psychosocial and physical measures) and three outcomes (patient-reported distress, cortisol, and sarcopenia) with Spearman's rank correlations and multivariable linear regression. The potential moderating effect of age was separately investigated by including an interaction term in the regression models.
Results: Patient-reported distress was associated with gender (median: women 5.0, men 3.0, p < 0.001), partnered status (single 5.0, partnered 4.0, p = 0.018), and cancer type (rectal 5.0, colon 4.0, p = 0.026); these effects varied with patient age. Cortisol level was associated with "emotional problems" (ρ = 0.34, p = 0.030), anxiety (ρ = 0.46, p = 0.006), and depression (ρ = 0.54, p = 0.001) among younger patients. We found no significant associations between patient-reported distress, salivary cortisol, and sarcopenia.
Conclusions: We found that young, single patients reported high levels of distress compared to other patient groups. Salivary cortisol may have limited value as a cancer-related stress biomarker among younger patients, based on association with some psychosocial measures. Stress biomarkers may not be more clinically useful than patient-reported measures in assessing distress among colorectal cancer patients.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cam4.3914 | DOI Listing |
Healthcare (Basel)
January 2025
Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
Through survey and analysis of pancreas cancer patient-caregiver dyads, we aimed to identify patient and caregiver characteristics that influence and determine the impact of caregiver coping strategies, self-esteem, and resilience on caregiver distress. This was a cross-sectional, observational study including pancreatic cancer patients and their caregivers. Demographics of patients and caregivers were collected.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes-Palliative Care (ECHO-PC; ECHO Model-Based comprehensive educational and telementoring intervention) for health care professionals (HCPs) and change in patient-reported quality-of-life (QOL; Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General [FACT-G]) among patients with advanced cancer. We also examined the association between ECHO-PC and changes in symptom distress (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale [ESAS]), patient experience and satisfaction, and caregiver distress scores.
Methods: ECHO-PC Clinic sessions were conducted twice a month for 1 year by an interdisciplinary team of PC clinicians at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, with participation of experts in PC in sub-Saharan Africa, using standardized curriculum on the basis of PC needs in the region.
Eur Urol Open Sci
January 2025
Clinical Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
Background And Objective: We evaluated the effectiveness of injecting autologous adipose-derived regenerative cells (ADRCs) into plaque in men with chronic Peyronie's disease (PD).
Methods: This pilot safety study recruited 22 Danish men with chronic PD from an outpatient clinic. Patients received one bolus of ADRCs injected into plaque, with follow-ups at 1, 3, 6, and 12 mo.
Respir Med Case Rep
December 2024
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.
An 89-year-old male with a medical history of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy was initially admitted with acute hypoxic respiratory failure attributed to heart failure exacerbation. Aside from progressive dyspnea, a non-pruritic, non-painful rash and constitutional symptoms were reported. Initial work-up was remarkable for normocytic anemia, lymphopenia, mild hypercalcemia, and elevated inflammatory markers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMedicine (Baltimore)
January 2025
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
Rationale: Gynecomastia, characterized by abnormal enlargement of male breast tissue, can lead to significant psychological distress, particularly among younger men. Traditional surgical options, such as subcutaneous mastectomy and liposuction, often result in visible scarring and contour deformities. This study introduces the "Stab Flatten" technique, a novel, minimally invasive approach for treating severe gynecomastia, designed to preserve chest aesthetics while minimizing postoperative complications, including scarring and contour irregularities.
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