TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of Early Palliative Care in Advanced Cancer Patients
T2 - A Meta-Analysis
AU - Shih, Hsiu Hua
AU - Chang, Hsiu Ju
AU - Huang, Tsai Wei
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2022.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Objective: Advanced cancer patients often suffer from a reduced quality of life (QoL) and cancer-related symptoms. Early palliative care may improve their QoL and symptom severity. Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis of the effects of early palliative care on QoL, symptom severity, and other outcomes in advanced cancer patients, and searched PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library databases for potential randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The primary outcome was QoL. The secondary outcomes were symptom intensity and functional well-being (Trial Outcome Index, TOI). The study protocol has been registered and approved by PROSPERO (CRD42020164047). Results: We obtained 12 RCTs enrolling 2980 participants. Compared with the usual care, early palliative care significantly improved QoL at ≤ 3 months (SMD =.16, 95% CI =.05–.27) and when treated more 3 months (SMD =.26, 95% CI =.11–.40). Compared with usual treatment, patients who received early palliative care exhibited a significant reduction in symptom intensity when treated more than 3 months (SMD =.18, 95% CI =.06–.31) and in TOI ≤ 3 months (SMD =.28, 95% CI =.11–.45). Conclusions: Early palliative care improves QoL, symptom intensity, and TOI in advanced cancer patients. We recommend introducing early palliative care for advanced cancer patients as the approach provides additional clinical benefits compared with usual care.
AB - Objective: Advanced cancer patients often suffer from a reduced quality of life (QoL) and cancer-related symptoms. Early palliative care may improve their QoL and symptom severity. Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis of the effects of early palliative care on QoL, symptom severity, and other outcomes in advanced cancer patients, and searched PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library databases for potential randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The primary outcome was QoL. The secondary outcomes were symptom intensity and functional well-being (Trial Outcome Index, TOI). The study protocol has been registered and approved by PROSPERO (CRD42020164047). Results: We obtained 12 RCTs enrolling 2980 participants. Compared with the usual care, early palliative care significantly improved QoL at ≤ 3 months (SMD =.16, 95% CI =.05–.27) and when treated more 3 months (SMD =.26, 95% CI =.11–.40). Compared with usual treatment, patients who received early palliative care exhibited a significant reduction in symptom intensity when treated more than 3 months (SMD =.18, 95% CI =.06–.31) and in TOI ≤ 3 months (SMD =.28, 95% CI =.11–.45). Conclusions: Early palliative care improves QoL, symptom intensity, and TOI in advanced cancer patients. We recommend introducing early palliative care for advanced cancer patients as the approach provides additional clinical benefits compared with usual care.
KW - advanced cancer
KW - early palliative care
KW - quality of life
KW - symptom intensity
KW - trial outcome index
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U2 - 10.1177/10499091221075570
DO - 10.1177/10499091221075570
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85126070857
SN - 1049-9091
VL - 39
SP - 1350
EP - 1357
JO - American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
JF - American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
IS - 11
ER -
