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Prognostic Scale of Chuang et al for Survival in a Patient with Terminal Cancer in Taiwan

Description

Chuang et al developed a prognostic scale for patients with terminal cancer in Taiwan. This can help to identify a patient who may be at risk for short-term mortality. The authors are from Far Eastern Memorial Hospital and the National Taiwan University in Taipei.


Patient selection: terminal cancer in Taiwan

 

Parameters:

(1) lung metastases

(2) liver metastases

(3) tiredness

(4) ascites

(5) edema

(6) cognitive impairment

(7) weight loss

(8) ECOG status (from 1 to 4, with ECOG 0 unlikely in a patient with terminal cancer)

 

Parameter

Finding

Points

lung metastases

no

0

 

yes

0.5

liver metastases

no

0

 

yes

0.5

tiredness

none

0

 

mild

0

 

moderate

0

 

severe

1

ascites

none

0

 

mild

0

 

moderate

1

 

severe

1

edema

none

0

 

mild

1

 

moderate

1

 

severe

1

cognitive impairment

none

0

 

mild

0.5

 

moderate

0.5

 

severe

0.5

weight loss

none

0

 

mild

0.2

 

moderate

0.7

 

severe

1

ECOG

1

0

 

2

1.5

 

3

2

 

4

3

 

where:

• Tiredness, ascites, edema and cognitive impairment could be reduced to binary choices.

 

total score =

= SUM(points for all 8 parameters)

 

Interpretation:

• minimum score: 0

• maximum score: 8.5

• The higher the score the worse the prognosis.

• A score >= 3.5 was associated with short term mortality in the study population.


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