Factors Related to Serum Vitamin C Level in Terminally Ill Cancer Patients.
10.14475/kjhpc.2014.17.4.241
- Author:
Hyung Jun KIM
1
;
In Cheol HWANG
;
Chang Hwan YEOM
;
Hong Yup AHN
;
Youn Seon CHOI
;
Jae Jun LEE
;
Su Hyuk LIM
Author Information
1. Department of Family Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea. spfe0211@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Neoplasms;
Terminal care;
Ascorbic acid;
Statistical factor analysis
- MeSH:
Ascorbic Acid Deficiency;
Ascorbic Acid*;
C-Reactive Protein;
Deglutition Disorders;
Drug Therapy;
Dyspnea;
Factor Analysis, Statistical;
Fever;
Humans;
Logistic Models;
Lung Neoplasms;
Multivariate Analysis;
Palliative Care;
Terminal Care;
Terminally Ill*
- From:Korean Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
2014;17(4):241-247
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Serum vitamin C is one of the indicators for antioxidant levels in the body and it is lower in cancer patients compared with the healthy population. However, there have been few studies on the levels of serum vitamin C in terminally ill cancer patients and related factors. METHODS: We followed 65 terminal cancer patients who were hospitalized in two palliative care units. We collected data of age, sex, cancer type, functional status, clinical symptoms, history of cancer therapy, and various laboratory findings including serum vitamin C level. Patients were categorized into two groups according to the quartile of serum vitamin C level (Q1-3 vs. Q4), which were compared each other. Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors related to serum vitamin C levels. RESULTS: The mean serum vitamin C level was 0.44 microg/mL, and all patients fell into the category of vitamin C deficiency. Univariate analysis showed that The serum vitamin C level was lower in non-lung cancer patients (P=0.041) and febrile patients (P=0.034). Multivariate analysis adjusted for potential confounders such as lung cancer, fever, dysphagia, dyspnea, C reactive protein, and history of chemotherapy demonstrated that odds for low serum vitamin C level was 3.7 for patients receiving chemotherapy (P=0.046) and 7.22 for febrile patients (P=0.02). CONCLUSION: Vitamin C deficiency was very severe in terminally ill cancer patients, and it was associated with history of chemotherapy and fever.
