Abstract / Summary
Abstract Purpose The World Health Organization advocates the development of palliative rehabilitation, aiming to enhance patients' quality of life by optimizing their functional abilities and psychosocial well-being. However, faced with the complex and dynamic nature of cancer, limited criteria are available to help physicians select patients with advanced cancer for palliative rehabilitation programs. The aim of the study was to identify predictive factors of functional improvement after palliative rehabilitation in patients with advanced cancer. Methods This retrospective single center study recruited patients with advanced cancer who received palliative rehabilitation. Demographic, clinical, medical, and biological data were recorded at the start of palliative rehabilitation. Functional improvement was defined as a 10% increase in the Palliative Performance Scale score at the end of palliative rehabilitation. Of the 40 patients included, 16 had functional improvement. Results Univariate logistic regression analysis identified two significant variables: C-reactive protein and Pronopall survival prognosis score. Functional improvement was observed in 83.3% of patients who had no chemotherapy or radiotherapy and in 66.7% of patients who had no unplanned hospitalizations in the past 12 months. Conclusion C-reactive protein and Pronopall score were predictive factors of functional improvement in patients with advanced cancer and could be used to select patients for palliative rehabilitation programs.