2062P - The psychological distress (PsyD) evaluation in pancreatic cancer (PC) patients (pts): A mono-institutional analysis

Background

PsyD is frequent in cancer pts and it negatively affects their treatment and quality of life. However, psychological screening is not extensively performed and few data about its impact are available. The aim of our study is to evaluate baseline PsyD in PC pts treated at our Institution and its correlation with clinicopathological features.

Methods

In the last year, we baseline evaluated PsyD of PC pts starting chemotherapy at our Institution, using the Distress Thermometer (DT) and Problem List (PL). The DT score was divided into three levels: no/minimal (0-3), moderate (4-6) and high (7-10) distress. PL was grouped into 6 categories (practical, physical, cognitive, spiritual/religious, emotional and family problems). Clinicopathological characteristics were collected and correlated with PsyD.

Results

A total of 86 PC pts were tested for baseline PsyD. The median age was 65 years, 63% were female, ECOG PS was > 1 in 56% of pts and 72% of pts had one or more comorbidities. The majority of pts (67%) received chemotherapy for metastatic disease. Regarding psychological screening, 31%, 29% and 40% of pts had no/minimal, moderate and high DT score, respectively. According to PL we observed: practical problems in 17% of patients, physical in 9%, cognitive in 42%, spiritual/religious in 9%, emotional in 16%, and family problems in 13% of patients. Regarding psycho-oncological care, 93% of pts received initial counseling, 63% intervention and follow-up. No significant association between DT score and PL groups with clinicopathological characteristics was observed.

Conclusions

Our mono-institutional analysis showed that the majority of PC pts receiving chemotherapy at our Institution presented a PsyD scored as moderate (29%) or high (40%) by DT at baseline. According to PL, the main problem concerned the cognitive sphere, specifically problems related to concentration and/or memory and self-perception. Additional analyses, including the impact of PsyD on treatment compliance, tolerability and prognosis are going.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli-IRCCS.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.