Gender Difference In Patients With Advanced Cancer

To examine if there is a gender difference in Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) symptoms in patients with advanced cancer. Methods: Consecutive advanced cancer patients referred for outpatient palliative radiotherapy at the Rapid Response Radiotherapy Program (RRRP) completed the ESAS prior to radiation treatment. Baseline demographics were obtained for each patient. Correlation between gender, demographics, and the ESAS items was calculated using univariate logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 1,107 patients were referred to RRRP from January 1999 to January 2002 and July 2007 to October 2008. There were 601 (54%) male and 506 (46%) female patients. The median age was 69 years (range 21 - 95). Males were older (male median age=70 years; female median age=66 years; p<0.0001). The most common primary cancer sites were lung (32%), breast (22%), and prostate (21%). Females reported significantly higher mean scores (+/-SD) for tiredness (5.1 +/- 3.0 versus 4.7 +/- 3.0, p=0.027), nausea (1.6 +/- 2.6 versus 1.1 +/- 2.1, p=0.0004) and anxiety (3.4 +/- 3.2 versus 2.7 +/- 3.0, p=0.0017). Conclusions: There is a gender difference in certain symptom distress scores in patients with advanced cancer. Our findings should be validated in future studies.