Quality-adjusted survival following treatment of malignant pleural effusions with indwelling pleural catheters.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) are a frequent cause of dyspnea in patients with cancer. Although indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) have been used since 1997, there are no studies of quality-adjusted survival following IPC placement.

Methods

With a standardized algorithm, this prospective observational cohort study of patients with MPE treated with IPCs assessed global health-related quality of life using the SF-6D to calculate utilities. Quality-adjusted life days (QALDs) were calculated by integrating utilities over time.

Results

A total of 266 patients were enrolled. Median quality-adjusted survival was 95.1 QALDs. Dyspnea improved significantly following IPC placement (P < .001), but utility increased only modestly. Patients who had chemotherapy

SUBMITTER: Ost DE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4694176 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature