TY - JOUR
T1 - Comorbidity assessment in skin cancer patients
T2 - A pilot study comparing medical interview with a patient-reported questionnaire
AU - Lee, Erica H.
AU - Nijhawan, Rajiv I.
AU - Nehal, Kishwer S.
AU - Dusza, Stephen W.
AU - Levine, Amanda
AU - Hill, Amanda
AU - Barker, Christopher A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Erica H. Lee et al.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Background. Comorbidities are conditions that occur simultaneously but independently of another disorder. Among skin cancer patients, comorbidities are common and may influence management. Objective. We compared comorbidity assessment by traditional medical interview (MI) and by standardized patient-reported questionnaire based on the Adult Comorbidity Evaluation-27 (ACE-27). Methods. Between September 2011 and October 2013, skin cancer patients underwent prospective comorbidity assessment by a Mohs surgeon (MI) and a radiation oncologist (using a standardized patient-reported questionnaire based on the ACE-27, the PRACE-27). Comorbidities were identified and graded according to the ACE-27 and compared for agreement. Results. Forty-four patients were evaluated. MI and PRACE-27 identified comorbidities in 79.5% and 88.6% (p=0.12) of patients, respectively. Among 27 comorbid ailments, the MI identified 9.9% as being present, while the PRACE-27 identified 12.5%. When there were discordant observations, PRACE-27 was more likely than MI to identify the comorbidity (OR=5.4, 95% CI = 2.4-14.4, p<0.001). Overall comorbidity scores were moderate or severe in 43.2% (MI) versus 59.1% (PRACE-27) (p=0.016). Limitations. Small sample size from a single institution. Conclusion. Comorbidities are common in skin cancer patients, and a standardized questionnaire may better identify and grade them. More accurate comorbidity assessments may help guide skin cancer management.
AB - Background. Comorbidities are conditions that occur simultaneously but independently of another disorder. Among skin cancer patients, comorbidities are common and may influence management. Objective. We compared comorbidity assessment by traditional medical interview (MI) and by standardized patient-reported questionnaire based on the Adult Comorbidity Evaluation-27 (ACE-27). Methods. Between September 2011 and October 2013, skin cancer patients underwent prospective comorbidity assessment by a Mohs surgeon (MI) and a radiation oncologist (using a standardized patient-reported questionnaire based on the ACE-27, the PRACE-27). Comorbidities were identified and graded according to the ACE-27 and compared for agreement. Results. Forty-four patients were evaluated. MI and PRACE-27 identified comorbidities in 79.5% and 88.6% (p=0.12) of patients, respectively. Among 27 comorbid ailments, the MI identified 9.9% as being present, while the PRACE-27 identified 12.5%. When there were discordant observations, PRACE-27 was more likely than MI to identify the comorbidity (OR=5.4, 95% CI = 2.4-14.4, p<0.001). Overall comorbidity scores were moderate or severe in 43.2% (MI) versus 59.1% (PRACE-27) (p=0.016). Limitations. Small sample size from a single institution. Conclusion. Comorbidities are common in skin cancer patients, and a standardized questionnaire may better identify and grade them. More accurate comorbidity assessments may help guide skin cancer management.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84952992605&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84952992605&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1155/2015/953479
DO - 10.1155/2015/953479
M3 - Article
C2 - 26180643
AN - SCOPUS:84952992605
SN - 2090-2905
VL - 2015
JO - Journal of Skin Cancer
JF - Journal of Skin Cancer
M1 - 953479
ER -