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Cited by 455Palliative Care and End-of-Life IssuesPalliative and Oncologic CarePain Management and Opioid Use

Prevalence of symptoms among patients with advanced cancer: An international collaborative study

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Vainio, Anneli, Auvinen, Anssi·1996·Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
DOI 10.1016/0885-3924(96)00042-5
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Abstract

The aims of this study were (a) to estimate the prevalence of pain and eight other common symptoms in a large population of patients with advanced cancer from different palliative care centers, and (b) to assess the differences in prevalence of the symptoms by primary site. In 1990-1991, the prevalence of eight major symptoms and performance status were assessed prospectively among 1840 cancer patients in seven hospices in Europe, the United States, and Australia. The data were collected at each institution using structured data collection sheets from the World Health Organization's (WHO) Cancer and Palliative Care Unit. The prevalence of moderate to severe pain was 51%, ranging from 43% in stomach cancer to 80% in gynecological cancers. Nausea was most prevalent in gynecological (42%) and stomach (36%) cancers, and dyspnea (46%) in lung cancer. There were statistically significant differences in the prevalence of most symptoms depending on the primary site of cancer and the hospice. Population-based follow-up studies are needed to document the incidence and prevalence of symptoms throughout the course of the disease.

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  • Adults with advanced cancer report a range of palliative care challenges, including anxiety and depression, spiritual/existential needs, fear of dying/death, and physical symptoms.

    “Adults with advanced cancer report a range of palliative care challenges, including anxiety and depression in the face of imminent loss and how to make the most of their remaining time, spiritual/ existential needs related to making sense of their illness, fear of dying/death, and physical symptoms [4–11].”

    From A randomized controlled trial of a multi-modal palliative care intervention to promote advance care planning and psychological well-being among adults with advanced cancer: study protocol. (2022) · cites this paper as [6]

    The Conclusion (page unavailable in our copy) reports pain, weakness, anorexia, constipation, and nausea among patients referred to palliative care, supporting the physical-symptoms portion. The methods passage says physicians and nurses collected symptom information; the available passages do not establish that patients reported anxiety, depression, spiritual or existential needs, or fear of dying. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Authors
Vainio, A., & Auvinen, A.
Affiliations
  • World Health Organization (CH)
  • Finnish Cancer Registry (FI)
ORCID
Auvinen, Anssi
Venue
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1996-07
Volume
12
Issue
1
Pages
3-10
ISSN
0885-3924 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/0885-3924(96)00042-5
OpenAlex
W2075464999
Cited by
455
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 21
FWCI
12.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Pain and Symptom Management (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative and Oncologic Care
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Opioid Use
Keywords
advanced cancer, symptom prevalence, cancer pain, nausea, dyspnea, performance status, primary tumor site, gynecologic cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, hospice care, palliative care
MeSH terms
Humans, Neoplasms, Pain, Palliative Care

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