Determinants of mortality in cancer patients with unscheduled admission to the Intensive Care Unit: A prospective multicenter study / Factores determinantes de la mortalidad en pacientes con cáncer ingresados de forma no programada en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos: estudio multicéntrico prospectivo

Objectives To analyze clinical fatures associated to mortality in oncological patients with unplanned admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and to determine whether such risk factors differ between patients with solid tumors and those with hematological malignancies. Design An observational study was carried out. Setting A total of 123 Intensive Care Units across Spain. Patient All cancer patients with unscheduled admission due to acute illness related to the background oncological disease. Interventions None. Main variables Demographic parameters, severity scores and clinical condition were assessed, and mortality was analyzed. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was performed. Results A total of 482 patients were included: solid cancer (n=311) and hematological malignancy (n=171). Multivariate regression analysis showed the factors independently associated to ICU mortality to be the APACHE II score (OR 1.102; 95% CI 1.064–1.143), medical admission (OR 3.587; 95% CI 1.327–9.701), lung cancer (OR 2.98; 95% CI 1.48–5.99) and mechanical ventilation after the first 24h of ICU stay (OR 2.27; 95% CI 1.09–4.73), whereas no need for mechanical ventilation was identified as a protective factor (OR 0.15; 95% CI 0.09–0.28). In solid cancer patients, the APACHE II score, medical admission, antibiotics in the previous 48h and lung cancer were identified as independent mortality indicators, while no need for mechanical ventilation was identified as a protective factor. In the multivariate analysis, the APACHE II score and mechanical ventilation after 24h of ICU stay were independently associated to mortality in hematological cancer patients, while no need for mechanical ventilation was identified as a protective factor. Neutropenia was not identified as an independent mortality predictor in either the total cohort or in the two subgroups (AU)

Objetivos Determinar las características clínicas asociadas con la mortalidad en pacientes oncológicos ingresados de forma no programada en la UCI. También evaluamos si estos factores de riesgos difieren en los pacientes con neoplasias hematológicas o tumores sólidos. Diseño Estudio observacional. Ámbito Ciento veintitrés Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos en España. Pacientes Todos los pacientes con cáncer ingresados de forma no programada debido a una enfermedad aguda asociada con la enfermedad oncológica. Intervenciones Ninguna. Variables principales Las variables analizadas fueron los datos demográficos, escalas pronósticas de gravedad y el estado clínico del paciente. Se analizó la mortalidad y los factores relacionados con ésta. Se aplicó un análisis de regresión logística binaria multivariante. Resultados Se incluyó a un total de 482 pacientes: con tumores sólidos (n=331) y con neoplasias hematológicas (n=171). En el análisis de regresión multivariante, los factores asociados de manera independiente con la mortalidad en la UCI fueron la puntuación APACHE II (OR 1,102; IC del 95% 1,064-1,143), el ingreso médico (OR 3,587; IC del 95% 1,327-9,701), el cáncer de pulmón (OR 2,98, IC del 95% 1,48-5,99) y la ventilación mecánica tras las primeras 24h de ingreso en la UCI (OR 2,27; IC del 95% 1,09-4,73), mientras que la no necesidad de ventilación mecánica fue un factor protector (OR 0,15; IC del 95% 0,09-0,28). En el caso de los tumores sólidos, la puntuación APACHE II, el ingreso médico, la administración de antibióticos en las 48 h previas y el cáncer de pulmón fueron variables independientes relacionadas con la mortalidad, y la no necesidad de ventilación mecánica se identificó como un factor protector. En el análisis multivariante, la puntuación APACHE II y la ventilación mecánica al cabo de 24h desde el ingreso en la UCI se asociaron de manera independiente con mortalidad en pacientes con neoplasias hematológicas (AU)

Determinants of mortality in cancer patients with unscheduled admission to the Intensive Care Unit: A prospective multicenter study.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze clinical features associated to mortality in oncological patients with unplanned admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and to determine whether such risk factors differ between patients with solid tumors and those with hematological malignancies. DESIGN: An observational study was carried out. SETTING: A total of 123 Intensive Care Units across Spain. PATIENTS: All cancer patients with unscheduled admission due to acute illness related to the background oncological disease. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN VARIABLES: Demographic parameters, severity scores and clinical condition were assessed, and mortality was analyzed. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 482 patients were included: solid cancer (n=311) and hematological malignancy (n=171). Multivariate regression analysis showed the factors independently associated to ICU mortality to be the APACHE II score (OR 1.102; 95% CI 1.064-1.143), medical admission (OR 3.587; 95% CI 1.327-9.701), lung cancer (OR 2.98; 95% CI 1.48-5.99) and mechanical ventilation after the first 24h of ICU stay (OR 2.27; 95% CI 1.09-4.73), whereas no need for mechanical ventilation was identified as a protective factor (OR 0.15; 95% CI 0.09-0.28). In solid cancer patients, the APACHE II score, medical admission, antibiotics in the previous 48h and lung cancer were identified as independent mortality indicators, while no need for mechanical ventilation was identified as a protective factor. In the multivariate analysis, the APACHE II score and mechanical ventilation after 24h of ICU stay were independently associated to mortality in hematological cancer patients, while no need for mechanical ventilation was identified as a protective factor. Neutropenia was not identified as an independent mortality predictor in either the total cohort or in the two subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors associated to mortality did not differ significantly between patients with solid cancers and those with hematological malignancies. Delayed intubation in patients requiring mechanical ventilation might be associated to ICU mortality.

SEOM clinical guideline for treatment of kidney cancer (2019).

In this article, we review de state of the art on the management of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and provide recommendations on diagnosis and treatment. Recent advances in molecular biology have allowed the subclassification of renal tumours into different histologic variants and may help to identify future prognostic and predictive factors. For patients with localized disease, surgery is the treatment of choice with nephron-sparing surgery recommended when feasible. No adjuvant therapy has demonstrated a clear benefit in overall survival. Considering the whole population of patients with advanced disease, the combination of axitinib with either pembrolizumab or avelumab increase response rate and progression-free survival, compared to sunitinib, but a longer overall survival has only been demonstrated so far with the pembrolizumab combo. For patients with IMDC intermediate and poor prognosis, nephrectomy should not be considered mandatory. In this subpopulation, the combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab has also demonstrated a superior response rate and overall survival vs. sunitinib. In patients progressing to one or two antiangiogenic tyrosine-kinase inhibitors, both nivolumab and cabozantinib in monotherapy have shown benefit in overall survival compared to everolimus. Although no clear sequence can be recommended, medical oncologists and patients should be aware of the recent advances and new strategies that improve survival and quality of life in patients with metastatic RCC.

Coping strategies and depressive symptoms in cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION: Depression in cancer patients is prevalent and negatively impacts their quality of life. Likewise, it correlates with lower overall survival. The aim of this work is to analyze whether different coping strategies, as well as sociodemographic and clinical factors are associated with the presence of depressive symptoms in individuals with a resected, non-metastatic neoplasm about to initiate adjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: NEOcoping is a cross-sectional, prospective, observational, multicenter study. Clinical (tumor site and stage, time to diagnosis, risk of recurrence, and type of adjuvant treatment) and sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, marital status, educational level, occupational sector, and employment status), coping strategies (Mini-MAC scale), and depressive symptoms (BSI scale) were collected. A two-block linear regression model was performed to determine the predictive variables of depressive symptoms. RESULTS: 524 adults with resected, non-metastatic cancer were recruited. Twenty-six percent of patients have clinically significant depressive symptoms. Being female, < 40 years of age, having breast and stomach cancer, and > 50% chance of recurrence were associated with increased risk of depression. Likewise, depression was associated with greater helplessness and anxious preoccupation, and less fighting spirit. Age, gender, and risk of recurrence accounted for only 7% of the variance in depressive symptoms. Including coping strategies in the regression analysis significantly increased the variance explained (48.5%). CONCLUSION: Early psychological intervention in patients with maladaptive coping strategies may modulate the onset of depressive symptoms, especially in those at higher risk for depression.

Calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en pacientes oncológicos con enfermedad tromboembólica venosa aguda sintomática. Diseño del estudio qca (quality of life in cancer). Estudio de casos y controles / Health-related quality of life in cancer patients with acute symptomatic venous thromboembolic disease. Design of the QCa (quality of life in cancer) study. Case-control study

La asociación entre cáncer y enfermedad tromboembólica (ETV) se encuentra bien establecida. La ETV presenta una elevada morbimortalidad, objetivándose un incremento del riesgo de ETV hasta 4 veces mayor en aquellos pacientes con cáncer respecto a la población general. Sin embargo, existe poca evidencia científica sobre la CVRS (calidad de vida relacionada con la salud) en pacientes oncológicos con ETV, cuando es presumible que esta patología suponga un agravante sobre la percepción del estado de salud de los pacientes oncológicos. Nuestro objetivo es presentar el estudio "QCa Study", el cual pretende evaluar la CVRS de los pacientes oncológicos con ETV aguda sintomática en comparación con pacientes oncológicos sin ETV. "QCa study" es un estudio nacional de cohortes, prospectivo, de casos y controles en pacientes con cáncer activo. Definimos "caso" como aquel paciente oncológico con ETV aguda sintomática, y "control" aquel paciente oncológico sin ETV aguda sintomática. Los criterios de inclusión son: para los casos: presentar cáncer activo al momento de la inclusión. Tener más de 18 años, pacientes diagnosticados de trombosis venosa profunda (TVP) en miembros inferiores aguda sintomática o de embolia de pulmón (EP) confirmado de forma objetiva mediante pruebas de imagen y firma del consentimiento informado. Para los controles; presentar cáncer activo. Tener más de 18 años. Firma del consentimiento informado. Dado los escasos datos publicados respecto a la CVRS en pacientes con ETV, hemos diseñado el estudio Qca, para poder determinar el impacto que genera la ETV en la calidad de vida de los pacientes con cáncer

The association between cancer and venous thromboembolic disease (VTD) is well established. VTD presents a high rate of morbidity and mortality, with patients with cancer showing an increased risk of VTD that is up to 4 times greater than the general population. However, there is little scientific evidence on HRQoL (health-related quality of life) in cancer patients with VTD when this disease is likely to be an aggravating factor in perceived state of health among cancer patients. Our objective is to present the QCa study, which aims to evaluate the HRQoL of cancer patients with acute symptomatic VTD in comparison with cancer patients without VTD. The QCa study is a prospective, case-control national cohort study in patients with active cancer. We define "case" as a cancer patient with acute symptomatic VTD and "control" as a cancer patient without acute symptomatic VTD. Inclusion criteria for cases were: having active cancer at the time of inclusion, being over the age of 18, patients diagnosed with acute symptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the lower extremities or pulmonary embolism (EP) that was objectively confirmed through imaging tests, and having signed the informed consent. For the controls: having active cancer, being over the age of 18, and having signed the informed consent. Given the scarce data published with regard to HRQoL in patients with VTD, we designed the QCa study to determine the impact VTD has on the quality of life of patients with cancer

Manejo clínico de los eventos adversos cutáneos en pacientes tratados con quimioterapia: consenso nacional de la Academia Española de Dermatología y Venereología y de la Sociedad Española de Oncología Médica / Clinical Management of Cutaneous Adverse Events in Patients on Chemotherapy: A National Consensus Statement by the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology and the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology

A pesar del avance que ha supuesto en la supervivencia de los pacientes oncológicos, la aparición de nuevos agentes quimioterápicos y nuevas combinaciones, estos han traído consigo numerosos efectos adversos que pueden llegar a comprometer el tratamiento y, por consiguiente, el pronóstico de la enfermedad. Entre otros efectos secundarios los citostáticos pueden causar toxicidad dermatológica. El efecto adverso más conocido de la quimioterapia es la alopecia que, aunque no es grave, altera la apariencia externa de los pacientes con cáncer. Otros efectos adversos que pueden observarse son las reacciones de hipersensibilidad y fotosensibilidad, el síndrome mano-pie, la necrólisis epidérmica, las reacciones de reactivación, las reacciones esclerodermiformes, el fenómeno de Raynaud, la siringometaplasia escamosa ecrina, la hidradenitis neutrofílica ecrina, las alteraciones ungueales, las alteraciones en la pigmentación y las lesiones por extravasación. La aparición de estos efectos adversos produce en muchas ocasiones una reducción de dosis y/o retraso del tratamiento, lo que puede afectar a la supervivencia y a la calidad de vida del paciente. Por ello, es importante prevenir su aparición e instaurar un tratamiento temprano, para lo que se hace imprescindible la colaboración entre oncólogos médicos y dermatólogos. En este artículo se revisa la toxicidad dermatológica asociada con la quimioterapia, así como su diagnóstico y abordaje terapéutico

Although the arrival of new chemotherapy drugs and combinations has brought progress in terms of cancer patient survival, they entail many adverse effects that can compromise treatment, and hence prognosis, of the disease. Cytostatic agents can cause dermatological toxicity, among other side effects. The most familiar adverse effect of chemotherapy is alopecia. Although not serious, this changes the outward appearance of cancer patients. Other adverse effects include hypersensitivity and photosensitivity reactions, hand-foot syndrome, epidermal necrolysis, recall reactions, scleroderma-like reactions, Raynaud's phenomenon, eccrine squamous syringometaplasia, neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis, nail abnormalities, pigmentation changes and extravasation injuries. Onset of these adverse effects often causes dose reduction and/or delayed treatment, which can affect patient survival and quality of life. It is therefore important to prevent their occurrence and treat them promptly, which requires cooperation between medical oncologists and dermatologists. This article reviews chemotherapy-associated dermatological toxicity, along with its diagnosis and therapeutic management

Clinical Management of Cutaneous Adverse Events in Patients on Chemotherapy: A National Consensus Statement by the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology and the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology. / Manejo clínico de los eventos adversos cutáneos en pacientes tratados con quimioterapia: consenso nacional de la Academia Española de Dermatología y Venereología y de la Sociedad Española de Oncología Médica.

Although the arrival of new chemotherapy drugs and combinations has brought progress in terms of cancer patient survival, they entail many adverse effects that can compromise treatment, and hence prognosis, of the disease. Cytostatic agents can cause dermatological toxicity, among other side effects. The most familiar adverse effect of chemotherapy is alopecia. Although not serious, this changes the outward appearance of cancer patients. Other adverse effects include hypersensitivity and photosensitivity reactions, hand-foot syndrome, epidermal necrolysis, recall reactions, scleroderma-like reactions, Raynaud's phenomenon, eccrine squamous syringometaplasia, neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis, nail abnormalities, pigmentation changes and extravasation injuries. Onset of these adverse effects often causes dose reduction and/or delayed treatment, which can affect patient survival and quality of life. It is therefore important to prevent their occurrence and treat them promptly, which requires cooperation between medical oncologists and dermatologists. This article reviews chemotherapy-associated dermatological toxicity, along with its diagnosis and therapeutic management.

SEOM clinical guidelines to primary prevention of cancer (2018).

Cancer is the leading social and healthcare problem of the twenty-first century. The aim of primary prevention is to decrease the incidence of cancer by avoiding the known causes and risk factors. Nevertheless, it has been estimated that cancer diagnoses could be halved through primary prevention measures. A comprehensive review of the scientific evidence regarding the main carcinogens and risk factors and primary prevention recommendations have been put forth based on this evidence. The GRADE scale has been used to classify the grade of evidence. We present the scientific evidence and recommendations for primary prevention of the major modifiable risk factors: smoking, alcohol, diet, obesity, physical activity, occupational and environmental factors, ultraviolet radiation, infections, and socioeconomic factors. Primary prevention is a simple, effective means to lower the incidence of cancer. Preventive measures must be circulated in the fight against cancer.

SEOM clinical guidelines on cardiovascular toxicity (2018).

One of the most common side effects of cancer treatment is cardiovascular disease, which substantially impacts long-term survivor's prognosis. Cardiotoxicity can be related with either a direct side effect of antitumor therapies or an accelerated development of cardiovascular diseases in the presence of preexisting risk factors. Even though it is widely recognized as an alarming clinical problem, scientific evidence is scarce in the management of these complications in cancer patients. Consequently, current recommendations are based on expert consensus. This Guideline represents SEOM's ongoing commitment to progressing and improving supportive care for cancer patients.

SEOM clinical guidelines on cardiovascular toxicity (2018)

One of the most common side effects of cancer treatment is cardiovascular disease, which substantially impacts long-term survivor's prognosis. Cardiotoxicity can be related with either a direct side effect of antitumor therapies or an accelerated development of cardiovascular diseases in the presence of preexisting risk factors. Even though it is widely recognized as an alarming clinical problem, scientific evidence is scarce in the management of these complications in cancer patients. Consequently, current recommendations are based on expert consensus. This Guideline represents SEOM's ongoing commitment to progressing and improving supportive care for cancer patients

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SEOM clinical guidelines to primary prevention of cancer (2018)

Cancer is the leading social and healthcare problem of the twenty-first century. The aim of primary prevention is to decrease the incidence of cancer by avoiding the known causes and risk factors. Nevertheless, it has been estimated that cancer diagnoses could be halved through primary prevention measures. A comprehensive review of the scientific evidence regarding the main carcinogens and risk factors and primary prevention recommendations have been put forth based on this evidence. The GRADE scale has been used to classify the grade of evidence. We present the scientific evidence and recommendations for primary prevention of the major modifiable risk factors: smoking, alcohol, diet, obesity, physical activity, occupational and environmental factors, ultraviolet radiation, infections, and socioeconomic factors. Primary prevention is a simple, effective means to lower the incidence of cancer. Preventive measures must be circulated in the fight against cancer

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Clinical management of cutaneous adverse events in patients on targeted anticancer therapies and immunotherapies: a national consensus statement by the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology and the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology.

Progress in the understanding of many tumors has enabled the development of new therapies, such as those targeted at specific molecules involved in cell growth (targeted therapies) or intended to modulate the immune system (immunotherapy). However, along with the clinical benefit provided by these new treatments, new adverse effects have also appeared. Dermatological toxicities such as papulopustular eruptions, xerosis, and pruritus are common with EGFR inhibitors. Other adverse effects have also been described with PDGFR, BCR-ABL, and MAPK tyrosine kinase inhibitors, antiangiogenic drugs, and inhibitors at immune checkpoints such as CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1. Onset of these adverse effects often causes dose reductions and/or delays in administering the prescribed therapy, which can affect patient survival and quality of life. It is, therefore, important to prevent the occurrence of these adverse effects, or to treat unavoidable ones as soon as possible. This requires cooperation between medical oncologists and dermatologists. This article reviews the various dermatological toxicities associated with targeted therapies and immunotherapies, along with their diagnosis and therapeutic management.

Risk of malnutrition and emotional distress as factors affecting health-related quality of life in patients with resected cancer.

INTRODUCTION: This study analyzes the prevalence of malnutrition, depression, anxiety, and somatization and which factor has the biggest effect on quality of life (QoL) in individuals with resected cancer. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted among 747 participants. Participants completed the EORTC-QLQ30, MST, and BSI-18 questionnaires. RESULTS: Prevalence for risk of malnutrition, depression, anxiety, and somatization were 36.4%, 35.5%, 35.2%, and 48.8%, respectively. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that malnutrition risk, somatization, depression, and anxiety accounted for 50.8% of the variance in functional scale, 45.3% in symptom scale, and 52.2% in global health. Malnutrition, somatization, depression, and anxiety displayed high explanatory power on all health-related QoL (HRQoL) scales. CONCLUSION: The risk of malnutrition and psychological symptoms is strongly associated with HRQoL in cancer patients; thus, medical oncologists should develop effective interventions that contribute to lowering the risk of malnutrition and psychological distress, thereby improving subjects' HRQoL before initiating adjuvant chemotherapy.

Complexity and uncertainty in the critical care of cancer patients in the era of immunotherapy and targeted therapies / Complejidad e incertidumbre en cuidados críticos para pacientes con cáncer en la era de la inmunoterapia y terapias dirigidas

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Prospective analysis of psychological differences between adult and elderly cancer patients during postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy

Purpose: Despite the burgeoning geriatric population with cancer and the importance of understanding how age may be related to mental adjustment and quality of life so far, differences in coping strategies and psychological harm between the elderly and adults are hardly being taken into account to modify the approach to this population. The aim of this prospective study is to describe the differences in psychological characteristics between older and adult cancer patients and examine dissimilarities in their psychological evolution during adjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: Adults (18-69 years old) and older patients (≥ 70) with newly diagnosed non-metastatic resected cancer admitted to receive adjuvant chemotherapy were recruited. Patients completed the following questionnaires: mini-mental adjustment to cancer, brief symptom inventory, shared decision-making questionnaire-patient’s version, multidimensional scale of perceived social support, EORTC quality-of-life instrument, life orientation test-revised, and satisfaction with life scale. Results: 500 cancer patients (394 adults and 106 older) were evaluated. The impact of the diagnosis was less negative among older patients, with no differences in coping strategies, quality of life, or search for support. Regarding psychological changes from the beginning to the end of the adjuvant treatment, both age groups reported more somatic symptoms, increased psychological difficulty, reduced coping strategies, and a significant decrease in quality of life at the end of postoperative chemotherapy. Conclusion: Although there were clear psychological differences between adults and senior cancer patients, their evolution during adjuvant chemotherapy was similar, with deterioration in quality of life and coping. This negative psychological impact of adjuvant chemotherapy should be taken into account when considering interventions

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The relationship between physician and cancer patient when initiating adjuvant treatment and its association with sociodemographic and clinical variables

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze differences in physician and patient satisfaction in shared decision-making (SDM); patients’ emotional distress, and coping in subjects with resected, non-metastatic cancer. Methods: 602 patients from 14 hospitals in Spain were surveyed. Information was collected regarding physician and patient satisfaction with SDM, participants’ emotional distress and coping, as well as patient sociodemographic and clinical characteristics by means of specific, validated questionnaires. Results: Overall, 11% of physicians and 19% of patients were dissatisfied with SDM; 22% of patients presented hopelessness or anxious preoccupation as coping strategies, and 56% presented emotional distress. By gender, female patients showed a higher prevalence of dissatisfaction with SDM (23 vs 14%), anxious preoccupation (26 vs 17%), and emotional distress (63 vs 44%) than males. Hopelessness was more prevalent in individuals with stage III disease than those with stages I-II (28 vs 18%). Conclusion: Physicians must be mindful of the importance of emotional support and individual characteristics when communicating treatment options, benefits, and adverse effects of each alternative to oncological patients

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Intensive care in cancer patients in the age of immunotherapy and molecular therapies: Commitment of the SEOM-SEMICYUC / Cuidados intensivos en pacientes con cáncer en la era de la inmunoterapia y las terapias moleculares: el compromiso de la SEOM-SEMICYUC

Cancer patients are a vulnerable group exposed to numerous and serious risks beyond cancer itself. In recent years, the prognosis of these individuals has improved substantially thanks to several advances such as immunotherapy, targeted molecular therapies, surgical techniques, or developments in support treatment. This coincides with the prolonged survival of oncological patients admitted to the ICU due to critical complications, and under the supervision of intensivists. The time has therefore come to revisit the intensive care support of these patients, which poses new professional as well as organizational challenges. An agreement was signed in 2017 between the SEOM and SEMICYUC with the aim of improving the quality of care of cancer patients with critical complications. The initiative seeks to aid in decision-making, standardize criteria, decrease subjectivity, generate channels of communication, and delve deeper into the ethical and scientific aspects of these situations. This document sets forth the most important reasons that have led us to undertake this initiative

Los pacientes con cáncer constituyen un colectivo vulnerable expuesto a numerosos riesgos graves, más allá del cáncer en sí. En los últimos años, el pronóstico de estos individuos ha mejorado sustancialmente gracias a varios avances, como la inmunoterapia, las terapias moleculares específicas, las técnicas quirúrgicas o el desarrollo de los tratamientos de soporte. Esto se traduce en un aumento de la supervivencia de los pacientes oncológicos hospitalizados en la UCI y que son llevados por intensivistas. Por lo tanto, ha llegado el momento de revisar el apoyo de cuidados intensivos para estos pacientes, lo que plantea nuevos desafíos profesionales y de organización. En este marco, en 2017 se firmó un acuerdo entre la SEOM y la SEMICYUC con el objetivo de mejorar la calidad de la atención de pacientes oncológicos con complicaciones críticas. Esta iniciativa busca ayudar en la toma de decisiones, estandarizar criterios, disminuir la subjetividad, generar canales de comunicación y profundizar en los aspectos éticos y científicos de estas situaciones. Este documento establece las razones más importantes que nos han llevado a emprender esta iniciativa

Prospective analysis of psychological differences between adult and elderly cancer patients during postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: Despite the burgeoning geriatric population with cancer and the importance of understanding how age may be related to mental adjustment and quality of life so far, differences in coping strategies and psychological harm between the elderly and adults are hardly being taken into account to modify the approach to this population. The aim of this prospective study is to describe the differences in psychological characteristics between older and adult cancer patients and examine dissimilarities in their psychological evolution during adjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: Adults (18-69 years old) and older patients (≥ 70) with newly diagnosed non-metastatic resected cancer admitted to receive adjuvant chemotherapy were recruited. Patients completed the following questionnaires: mini-mental adjustment to cancer, brief symptom inventory, shared decision-making questionnaire-patient's version, multidimensional scale of perceived social support, EORTC quality-of-life instrument, life orientation test-revised, and satisfaction with life scale. RESULTS: 500 cancer patients (394 adults and 106 older) were evaluated. The impact of the diagnosis was less negative among older patients, with no differences in coping strategies, quality of life, or search for support. Regarding psychological changes from the beginning to the end of the adjuvant treatment, both age groups reported more somatic symptoms, increased psychological difficulty, reduced coping strategies, and a significant decrease in quality of life at the end of postoperative chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Although there were clear psychological differences between adults and senior cancer patients, their evolution during adjuvant chemotherapy was similar, with deterioration in quality of life and coping. This negative psychological impact of adjuvant chemotherapy should be taken into account when considering interventions.