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Table 3 Difference in Symptom Frequency and Intensity between Cancer and Non-Cancer Patients

From: A comparison of symptoms in older hospitalised cancer and non-cancer patients in need of palliative care: a secondary analysis of two cross-sectional studies

Frequency

Intensity

 

Cancer patients (N = 100)

Non-Cancer patients (N = 100)

Wilcoxon Mann Whitney U-test

Cancer patients

Non-Cancer patients

Wilcoxon Mann Whitney U-test

Median(25–75 IQ)

Mean(SD)

Median(25–75 IQ)

Mean(SD)

Z

p-value

N

Median(25–75 IQ)

Mean(SD)

N

Median(25–75 IQ)

Mean(SD)

Z

p-value

Physical

 Lack of appetite

2.0 (0.0–4.0)

1.89 (1.69)

2.0 (0.0–3.0)

1.48 (1.46)

−1.74

0.082

63

2.0 (0.0–3.0)

1.83 (1.28)

58

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

1.84 (0.97)

−0.40

0.692

 Fatigue (physical)

3.0 (2.0–4.0)

2.53 (1.55)

2.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.30 (1.40)

−1.53

0.127

79

2.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.47 (0.92)

79

2.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.47 (0.70)

−0.87

0.387

 Pain (physical)

2.0 (0.0–3.0)

1.66 (1.65)

2.0 (0.0–4.0)

1.98 (1.68)

−1.39

0.164

55

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.40 (0.76)

64

3.0 (2.3–3.0)

2.69 (0.61)

−2.30

0.021

 Lack of energy

3.0 (0.0–4.0)

2.26 (1.69)

3.0 (2.0–4.0)

2.55 (1.49)

−0.98

0.325

68

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.43 (0.98)

81

3.0 (3.0–3.0)

2.70 (0.58)

−1.47

0.141

 Nausea

0.0 (0.0–1.0)

0.59 (1.01)

0.0 (0.0–1.0)

0.53 (0.96)

−0.19

0.851

27

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.41 (0.93)

27

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.30 (0.99)

−0.39

0.699

 Sleeplessness

0.0 (0.0–3.0)

1.23 (1.53)

2.0 (0.0–3.0)

1.61 (1.56)

−1.87

0.062

44

3.0 (1.3–3.0)

2.18 (1.02)

60

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.25 (0.97)

−0.28

0.781

 Vomiting

0.0 (0.0–0.0)

0.32 (0.82)

0.0 (0.0–0.0)

0.42 (0.90)

−0.76

0.448

15

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.47 (0.92)

20

3.0 (2.3–3.0)

2.70 (0.57)

−0.65

0.514

 Dizziness

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

0.78 (1.12)

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

0.76 (1.09)

−0.05

0.643

36

2.5 (2.0–3.0)

2.17 (1.03)

37

2.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.14 (0.86)

−0.55

0.586

 Heartburn/belching

0.0 (0.0–0.0)

0.42 (0.93)

0.0 (0.0–0.0)

0.39 (0.93)

−0.46

0.641

21

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

1.90 (1.04)

18

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

1.94 (0.80)

−0.13

0.894

 Tingling hand/ft

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

1.10 (1.61)

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

1.11 (1.56)

−0.15

0.883

36

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

2.08 (1.05)

38

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.45 (0.83)

−1.59

0.111

 Difficulties concentrating

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

0.98 (1.48)

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

0.81 (1.13)

−0.16

0.874

35

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

2.00 (1.11)

39

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.46 (0.85)

−1.88

0.061

 Sore mouth/pain when swallowing

0.0 (0.0–0.0)

0.50 (1.20)

0.0 (0.0–0.0)

0.53 (1.11)

−0.57

0.566

17

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.47 (0.72)

21

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.38 (0.92)

−0.05

0.960

 Shortness of breath

2.0 (0.0–3.0)

1.59 (1.55)

2.0 (1.0–4.0)

2.34 (1.49)

−3.42

0.001

56

2.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.11 (1.00)

81

3.0 (3.0–3.0)

2.18 (0.95)

−4.15

< 0.001

 Dry mouth

3.0 (2.0–4.0)

2.58 (1.35)

2.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.25 (1.36)

−1.85

0.065

85

2.0 (0.5–3.0)

1.86 (1.23)

80

2.5 (1.0–3.0)

2.44 (0.64)

−1.49

0.138

 Cough

0.5 (0.0–2.0)

1.09 (1.25)

0.5 (0.0–2.0)

1.18 (1.32)

−0.42

0.678

50

2.0 (0.8–3.0)

1.88 (1.22)

50

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.40 (0.89)

−1.94

0.052

 Urinary incontinence

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

0.94 (1.28)

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

0.91 (1.50)

−0.81

0.420

40

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.40 (1.01)

30

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.47 (0.84)

−0.24

0.811

 Faecal incontinence

0.0 (0.0–0.0)

0.29 (0.82)

0.0 (0.0–0.0)

0.48 (1.07)

−1.22

0.222

13

3.0 (3.0–3.0)

2.85 (0.38)

19

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

1.86 (1.16)

−1.22

0.225

 Itching

0.0 (0.0–0.0)

0.38 (0.94)

0.0 (0.0–1.0)

0.62 (1.06)

−2.07

0.038

16

1.5 (0.3–3.0)

1.69 (1.30)

29

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

2.58 (0.56)

−0.45

0.650

 Changes in food tasting

0.0 (0.0–2.5)

0.95 (1.67)

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

0.95 (1.54)

−0.47

0.636

25

3.0 (1.5–3.0)

2.36 (1.04)

31

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.48 (0.66)

−0.14

0.892

 Airway mucus

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

1.07 (1.39)

2.0 (0.0–3.0)

1.46 (1.40)

−2.01

0.045

43

2.0 (0.0–3.0)

1.93 (1.24)

58

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.48 (0.66)

−1.82

0.069

 Confusion

0.0 (0.0–0.0)

0.25 (0.73)

0.0 (0.0–0.8)

0.51 (0.93)

−2.46

0.014

11

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

2.09 (1.04)

25

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.48 (0.77)

−1.09

0.274

 Constipation

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

1.22 (1.44)

2.0 (0.0–3.0)

1.47 (1.50)

−1.18

0.239

46

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.33 (1.01)

55

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

2.09 (0.98)

−1.44

0.150

 Diarrhoea

0.0 (0.0–1.0)

0.63 (1.17)

0.0 (0.0–1.0)

0.60 (1.09)

−0.18

0.860

27

3.0 (1.0–3.0)

2.26 (1.10)

26

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.50 (0.91)

−0.69

0.492

 Weight lossa

38 (38.0)

41 (41.0)

0.19

0.664

Psychological

 Fatigue (psychological)

2.0 (0.0–3.0)

1.54 (1.52)

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

0.96 (1.39)

−2.78

0.005

56

3.0 (2.3–3.0)

2.72 (0.57)

38

2.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.32 (0.66)

−3.10

0.002

 Pain (psychological)

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

0.96 (1.37)

0.0 (0.0–0.0)

0.57 (1.14)

−2.16

0.031

36

3.0 (3.0–3.0)

2.72 (0.57)

23

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.43 (0.73)

−1.73

0.084

 Brooding

2.0 (0.0–3.0)

1.49 (1.42)

2.0 (0.0–2.8)

1.48 (1.41)

−0.08

0.940

57

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.51 (0.74)

59

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

1.90 (0.90)

−3.83

< 0.001

 Depressed mood

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

1.11 (1.24)

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

1.09 (1.33)

−0.29

0.769

49

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.55 (0.68)

46

2.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.30 (0.70)

−1.94

0.053

 Lack of willpower

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

0.86 (1.22)

2.0 (0.0–3.0)

1.91 (1.51)

−5.01

< 0.001

37

2.0 (1.5–3.0)

1.97 (1.07)

70

2.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.63 (0.57)

−3.39

0.001

 Nervousness

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

1.27 (1.52)

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

1.11 (1.31)

−0.55

0.582

48

2.0 (0.3–3.0)

1.90 (1.21)

48

2.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.00 (0.85)

−0.24

0.813

 Tension

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

0.90 (1.31)

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

0.93 (1.20)

−0.47

0.641

36

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.39 (0.84)

42

2.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.12 (0.63)

−2.22

0.026

 Anger

0.0 (0.0–0.0)

0.55 (1.04)

0.0 (0.0–0.8)

0.51 (0.96)

−0.03

0.978

24

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.50 (0.89)

25

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

1.84 (1.14)

−2.29

0.022

 Loneliness

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

0.92 (1.26)

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

1.13 (1.45)

−0.94

0.347

39

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.36 (0.87)

44

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.39 (0.75)

−0.09

0.931

 Fear

0.0 (0.0–1.0)

0.62 (1.14)

0.0 (0.0–0.0)

0.37 (0.85)

−1.63

0.104

27

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.41 (0.89)

18

2.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.28 (0.67)

−1.03

0.305

Functional

 Difficulties with self-care

3.5 (0.0–4.0)

2.32 (1.87)

4.0 (2.0–4.0)

2.89 (1.56)

−2.00

0.045

64

1.0 (0.0–2.8)

1.23 (1.27)

82

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

1.67 (1.03)

−2.34

0.019

 Difficulties with moving inside

4.0 (0.0–4.0)

1.35 (1.82)

3.0 (1.0–4.0)

2.45 (1.71)

−4.64

< 0.001

37

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.46 (0.96)

77

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.38 (0.90)

−0.71

0.480

 Difficulties with moving outside

4.0 (0.0–4.0)

2.40 (1.92)

4.0 (3.0–4.0)

3.23 (1.35)

−2.71

0.007

62

3.0 (1.0–3.0)

2.05 (1.25)

89

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.29 (0.96)

−0.87

0.384

Social

 Not feeling supported

0.0 (0.0–0.0)

0.40 (1.04)

0.0 (0.0–0.0)

0.33 (0.80)

−0.09

0.927

16

0.0 (0.0–0.0)

0.00 (0.00)

16

0.0 (0.0–0.8)

0.25 (0.45)

0.04

0.239

 Not satisfied with social life

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

1.04 (1.48)

0.0 (0.0–0.0)

0.45 (1.00)

−3.46

0.001

42

0.0 (0.0–0.3)

0.26 (0.48)

20

0.0 (0.0–0.8)

0.30 (0.57)

−0.15

0.880

Existential

 Experiencing life as not meaningful

0.0 (0.0–2.0)

1.21 (1.54)

2.0 (0.0–2.0)

1.35 (1.22)

−1.28

0.201

46

0.0 (0.0–0.0)

0.15 (0.42)

53

0.0 (0.0–1.0)

0.53 (0.62)

−3.75

< 0.001

  1. aWeight loss is a dichotomous variable. The number of patients reporting the symptom with its percentage are reported. Difference between groups was measured using the Chi-square test