Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40962916›Full record

ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2025

Symptom prevalence in gastrointestinal cancer: a secondary analysis of IPOS data.

Elaine G Boland, Assem Khamis, Khek Tjian Tay, Kathyrn Chater, Paul Taylor, Alison Landon, Joy Ross, Fliss E M Murtagh

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Cancer pain.Nature reviews. Disease primers · 2026
    Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Elaine G BolandHull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Hull, UK. Elaine.boland1@nhs.net.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2571-5929
Assem KhamisWolfson Palliative Care Research Centre, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, UK.
Khek Tjian TayHull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Hull, UK.
Kathyrn ChaterYork and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, York, UK.
Paul TaylorSt Luke's Hospice, Centre for Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
Alison LandonSt Christopher's Hospice, Sydenham, London, UK.
Joy RossWolfson Palliative Care Research Centre, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, UK.
Fliss E M MurtaghWolfson Palliative Care Research Centre, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, UK.

Funding

National Institute of Health and Care Research NIHR135115Yorkshire Cancer Research L412 and and HEND405RE
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposePatients with gastro-intestinal (GI) cancer have a high symptom burden; however, comparative data to other cancers is lacking. The aim is to determine symptom prevalence for people with GI cancer receiving specialist palliative care in the community.

methodSecondary analysis of anonymised routinely collected symptom registry data from those receiving community-based specialist palliative care, between 2020 and 2023.

resultsOne thousand seven hundred thirty-three patients with GI cancer received 2,332 episodes of specialist palliative care. Common symptoms were: - pain (77% prevalence in GI cancer vs 73% other cancers); with 49% reporting being moderately/severely/overwhelmingly affected in GI vs 46% in other cancers. - nausea (34% in GI cancer vs 25% other cancers); with 16% moderately/severely/overwhelmingly affected in GI vs 11% in other cancers. - vomiting (17% in GI cancer vs 11% other cancers); with 8% moderately/severely/overwhelmingly affected in GI vs 5% in other cancers. - poor appetite (77% in GI cancer vs 68% other cancers); with 56% moderately/severely/overwhelmingly affected in GI vs 46% in other cancers. poor mobility (79% in GI cancer vs 84% other cancer); with 53% moderately/severely/overwhelmingly affected in GI vs 62% in other cancers.

conclusionThis novel study provides comparative evidence about the nature of the high symptom burden for those with GI cancer and shows that poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, and worse mobility are more prevalent compared to other cancers, while pain and weakness are of similar prevalence. The underlying reasons may relate to illness trajectory, referral timing, or other causes and need further exploration.

Indexed as

Gastrointestinal NeoplasmsPalliative CareAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNauseaPrevalenceRegistriesVomitingCommunity settingsGastrointestinal cancerIPOSSpecialist palliative careSymptom prevalence

Identifiers

PMID40962916
PMCPMC12443883

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.