Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care

Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care (한국호스피스완화의료학회)
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Factors Related to Serum Vitamin C Level in Terminally Ill Cancer Patients

말기암환자에서 혈청 비타민 C 농도와 연관된 인자들

  • Kim, Hyung Jun (Department of Family Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center) ;
  • Hwang, In Cheol (Department of Family Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center) ;
  • Yeom, Chang Hwan (Ucell Clinic) ;
  • Ahn, Hong Yup (Department of Statistics, Dongguk University) ;
  • Choi, Youn Seon (Department of Family Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Jae Jun (Department of Family Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center) ;
  • Lim, Su Hyuk (Department of Family Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center)
  • 김형준 (가천대학교 길병원 가정의학과) ;
  • 황인철 (가천대학교 길병원 가정의학과) ;
  • 염창환 (유셀의원) ;
  • 안홍엽 (동국대학교 통계학과) ;
  • 최윤선 (고려대학교 구로병원 가정의학과) ;
  • 이재준 (가천대학교 길병원 가정의학과) ;
  • 임수혁 (가천대학교 길병원 가정의학과)
  • Received : 2014.08.04
  • Accepted : 2014.10.23
  • Published : 2014.12.01
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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 $0.44{\mu}g/mL$, 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.

목적: 혈청 비타민 C 수치는 체내 항산화상태를 나타내는 지표로서, 암환자에서는 정상인에 비해 감소되어 있다. 하지만, 이 지표가 말기암환자에서 어느 정도 감소되어 있고, 그 감소에 어떤 요인들이 관련되는지에 대한 연구는 매우 드물다. 방법: 두 개 기관의 완화의료병동에 입원했던 암환자 65명을 대상으로 하였다. 환자의 나이, 성별, 암의 종류, 기능상태, 임상증상, 완치 목적의 암 치료력, 그리고 혈청 비타민 C를 포함한 혈액검사 자료를 수집하였다. 혈청 비타민 C 수치의 사분위수를 기준으로 두 군(3사분위수 이하 vs. 4 사분위수)으로 분류한 후 각 군의 차이를 비교하였고, 단계적 다중 로지스틱 회귀분석을 통해 혈청 비타민 C 수치와 관련된 인자를 확인하였다. 결과: 대상자의 혈청 비타민 C의 평균은 $0.44{\mu}g/mL$이었으며, 대상자 전체가 비타민 C 결핍에 해당되었다. 단변량 분석에서는, 비폐암 환자이거나(P=0.041) 발열이 있는 환자(P=0.034)에서 낮은 혈청 비타민 C 수치를 보였다. 폐암, 발열, 삼킴곤란, 호흡곤란, C 반응단백, 그리고 항암화학요법 등의 잠재적인 인자들을 보정한 다변량 분석에서, 낮은 혈청 비타민 C 수치를 나타낼 가능성은 항암화학요법을 받은 군에서 그렇지 않은 군에 비해 3.7배 높았고(P=0.046), 발열이 있는 군에서 그렇지 않은 군에 비해 7.22배 높았다(P=0.020). 결론: 말기암환자에서 비타민 C 부족은 매우 심각하였고, 항암화학요법 치료력과 발열이 관련 있었다.

Keywords

References

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