Clinical profile of cancer patients visiting emergency department of Tikur Anbessa Specialized hospital.

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Date

2020-10

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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.

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Keywords

Cancer patients; Pattern; Outcome; Length of stay

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