ArticleCureus2024
High Symptom Burden in Patients With Advanced Chronic or Prolonged Infectious Diseases: Not Only Pain.
Article in Cureus, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Depression in adolescents on treatment for rifampicin-susceptible TB in Lima, Peru.IJTLD open · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionThe growing evidence of increased life expectancy in the future reveals the high relevance of frailty in patients with chronic-degenerative diseases; identification and management of symptoms may improve significantly their quality of life. The objective of our study was to assess the symptom burden in patients with advanced chronic or prolonged infectious diseases. MATERIALS AND
methodsA cross-sectional study was performed enrolling 88 patients, referred to palliative care consultation for chronic pain, and evaluated using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System to define Total Symptom Distress Score (TSDS) and high symptom burden (HSB) when more than six symptoms along with Numerical Rating Scale ≥4 were present.
resultsAll participants reported moderate to severe pain; in addition, 86 (97.7%) experienced a lack of well-being, 81 (92%) tiredness, 67 (76.1%) lack of appetite, 66 (75%) drowsiness, 66 (75%) depression, 56 (63.6%) anxiety, 49 (55.6%) nausea, and 39 (44.3%) shortness of breath. Forty-four patients (50%) had high TSDS, greater than 40.5, and presented lower Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) (median 40 vs. 70, p=0.0005), higher comorbidities (median 7 vs. 4, p=0.00001), and higher drug burden (median 9 vs. 6, p=0.0003) than those with low TSDS. Furthermore, considering symptom intensity, 40 patients (45.4%) had HSB and presented lower KPS (median 50 vs. 70, p=0.0005), higher comorbidities (median 7 vs. 4, p=0.00001), and higher drug burden (mean 9 vs. 6, p=0.01) compared to patients without HSB.
conclusionOur population had an HSB, in addition to pain, revealing high frailty. A correct assessment of symptoms is, therefore, required to manage patients with chronic infectious diseases. In this setting, attention should be given to identifying patients at high risk of HSB through a correct diagnosis and effective management, which should be based on a multi-professional approach.
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