Analysis of Diagnoses, Symptoms, Medications, and Admissions Among Patients With Cancer Presenting to Emergency Departments

Key Points Question What are the characteristics of patients with active cancer presenting to US emergency departments? Findings In this multicenter cohort study of 1075 adult patients with active cancer in the Comprehensive Oncologic Emergencies Research Network (CONCERN), patients commonly presented with symptoms such as pain (62.1%) and nausea (31.3%), were frequently treated for potential infection (26.5%), and were admitted (57.2%; 25.0% for <2 days) or placed in observation (7.6%). Meaning Opportunities for improving emergency department care for patients with cancer include establishing protocols and processes for prompt and appropriate symptom control, creating improved risk stratification tools, and improving outpatient management to prevent ED visits.

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