Articles: palliative-care.
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The palliative prognostic index (PPI) is a commonly used tool to predict the life expectancy in palliative care patients. However, there is no universal cutoff, and the accuracy of different cutoffs varies. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to explore the validity and accuracy of different PPI scores for different survival time in palliative care setting. ⋯ The PPI is a useful prognosticator of life expectancy of patients in palliative care, especially for patients with short survival time. However, there were no universal cutoff, and the predicted life span varies. Our data eliminated that using 4 and 6 as cutoffs can better predict the patients' survival time for 3 or 6 weeks. Due to small number of studies and poor qualities of them, result may alter as more studies with better quality are enrolled in the future.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Nov 2018
Meta AnalysisSurvival differences with immediate versus delayed chemotherapy for asymptomatic incurable metastatic colorectal cancer.
For patients with asymptomatic, incurable, metastatic colorectal cancer, palliative, systemic treatment can be started immediately, or can be delayed until disease-related symptoms occur. How the potential survival benefit of starting palliative, systemic treatment immediately after diagnosis weighs up against the potential side effects is currently under debate, and was investigated in this review. ⋯ Based on a limited number of trials, very sparse data, and uncertainty of the evidence, this review was unable to establish whether there was a difference in overall survival or other clinically relevant outcomes, between immediate or delayed chemotherapy in persons with metastatic, incurable, colorectal cancer. The results should be interpreted with caution.
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JACC. Heart failure · Sep 2018
Meta AnalysisAmbulatory Inotrope Infusions in Advanced Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
This study sought to systematically review the available evidence of risks and benefits of ambulatory intravenous inotrope therapy in advanced heart failure (HF). ⋯ High-quality evidence for the risks and benefits of ambulatory inotrope infusions in advanced HF is limited, particularly when used for palliation. Available data suggest that inotrope therapy improves NYHA functional class and does not impact survival.