Table 2.
Univariate Cox regression analyses: 1-year survival, sociodemographic factors, and clinical characteristics at baseline.
| Variable | Category | Crude HR (95% CI) |
P-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | < 65 | 1 | 0.38 |
| ≥ 65 | 0.87 (0.63–1.19) | ||
| Sex | Female | 1 | 0.047 |
| Male | 1.38 (1.00–1.91) | ||
| Monthly income (USD) | ≥ 3,000 | 1 | 0.91 |
| < 3,000 | 1.02 (0.72–1.45) | ||
| Educational achievement | ≥ High school | 1 | 0.73 |
| < High school | 1.06 (0.77–1.46) | ||
| Place of residence | Metropolitan area | 1 | 0.004 |
| Rural/Suburban | 1.60 (1.16–2.22) | ||
| Marital status | Married | 1 | 1 |
| Unmarried | 1.00 (0.69–1.45) | ||
| Religious practice | Yes | 1 | 0.13 |
| No | 0.78 (0.57–1.08) | ||
| Primary tumor site | Breast/lung/hematologic | 1 | < 0.0001* |
| Stomach/colon/liver/biliary-pancreatic | 2.31 (1.67–3.20) | ||
| Number of metastatic sites | < 3 | 1 | 0.20 |
| ≥ 3 | 1.55 (0.79–3.04) | ||
| Cancer treatment | Standard chemotherapy ongoing | 1 | < 0.0001* |
| Standard chemotherapy suspended/advanced cancer treatment (including immunotherapy and clinical trials)/all anti-cancer treatment stopped | 3.03 (2.03–4.50) | ||
| Performance status (ECOG-PS) | 0 (Fully active and can carry out all pre-disease activities without restriction)/1 (Restricted in physically strenuous activities, but remains ambulatory and able to carry out work of a light or sedentary nature)/2 (ambulatory and capable of all self-care, but unable to carry out any work activities; “up and about” > 50% of waking hours) | 1 | < 0.0001* |
| 3 (capable of only limited self-care; confined to bed or chair > 50% of waking hours)/4 (completely disabled; cannot carry out any self-care; totally confined to bed or chair) | 3.03 (2.21–4.15) | ||
| Symptom burden (EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL) | Fatigue (≥ 33.3 compared to < 33.3; median) | 1.94 (1.41–2.67) | 0.0003* |
| Appetite loss (≥ 33.3 compared to < 33.3; median) | 2.01 (1.46–2.78) | 0.0001* | |
| Dyspnea (≥ 33.3 compared to < 33.3; median) | 1.67 (1.22–2.27) | 0.0014 | |
| Insomnia (≥ 33.3 compared to < 33.3; median) | 1.54 (1.13–2.12) | 0.0095 | |
| Pain (≥ 33.3 compared to < 33.3; median) | 1.68 (1.23–2.29) | 0.0011 | |
| Depression (PHQ-9 total score) | No (0–4)/mild (5–9) | 1 | < 0.0001* |
| Moderate (10–14)/moderately severe (15–19)/severe (20–27) | 2.51 (1.83–3.43) |
*P < 0.001.
HR, hazard ratio; CI, confidence interval; GI, gastrointestinal; ECOG-PS, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status; EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 15 Palliative scores; USD, United States dollar; PHQ-9, Patient Health Questionnaire-9.