Clinical profile of cancer patients visiting emergency department of Tikur Anbessa Specialized hospital.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2020-10
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background: Cancer is one of the major non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which
include cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases. Cancer and its therapy
may lead to urgent conditions. The care of cancer patients with emergency problems presents a
challenge not only to medical oncologists but also to clinicians involved in emergency medicine.
The main aim of this study is to analyze the clinical profile of oncologic patients presenting to
adult emergency department of Tikur Anbessa specialized Hospital.
Methods: A prospective cross sectional study was conducted on oncologic patients who
presented to emergency department of Tikur anbessa specialized hospital from February 2020 to
June. The area selected for this research was TASH adult emergency unit, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
where the sample was collected from the patients who fulfill the inclusion criteria. SPSS
software was used for analysis Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed for patient
demographics and outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to identify
independent death-related factors.
Result: Total of 306 patients were found during study period and included in this study, out
of which 120(39.2%) of the patients were males and 186(60.8%) were females. The mean age
was 41.8±16.1. Most the patients (32.6) were initially seen in outpatient clinic of TASH.Around
60% of patients visited ED 4 months after onset of illness. The most common malignancy was
hematology (n=107, 35%). Mean length of ED stay is3.16±1.86 days. Presentation by selfreferral,
arrival
via
ambulance
and
during
night,
lung,
breast
and
neck
location
of
cancer,
having
poor
ECOG and having comorbidity (DM) were identified as factors associated with ED
mortality of oncologic patients.
Conclusion: Cancer patients frequently seek non-scheduled medical care and admit to
emergency departments for a range of conditions. Emergency physicians should develop
consensus algorithms in collaboration with the oncology to manage the commonly encountered
problems.
Description
Keywords
Cancer patients; Pattern; Outcome; Length of stay