進行性尿路がんの2次治療における地域の医療・福祉サービスとの診療連携の有用性 : 生命予後やQoLへの影響

Abstract

Chemotherapy and immune-checkpoint inhibitors, used as second-line treatments for advanced urothelial cancer (UC), can have adverse effects in some patients, such as decreased organ function. We investigated the effectiveness of cooperation with medical/welfare services, so-called cooperative medicine, in these cases. A total of 137 UC patients who had undergone second-line therapy were analyzed. Of these 137 patients, 49 were categorized in the "cooperative"treatment group, in which a general practitioner performed blood tests and transfusions ; and, administered medication, while nurses and case workers from a community health care institution provided mental and social support. There were 50 in the "joint" treatment group, who were treated jointly by a urologist and general practitioner ; and, 38 in the "solo" treatment group who were treated by a urologist only. The Short Form Health Survey, SF-36, was used to evaluate quality of life (QoL). We observed that the overall survival after the second-line treatment was significantly longer in the cooperative group than in the other two groups, with multivariate analyses confirming cooperative treatment as a significant factor for better prognosis (P=0.005). The period of second-line treatment in the cooperative group was significantly longer (P=0.003) than that in the solo group, whereas the proportion of patients who subsequently received third-line treatment was higher in the cooperative group, 58. 5%, than in the solo and joint groups, 26. 5% and 25. 5%, respectively. Posttreatment QoL measurements in the joint and solo groups were significantly lower for 3 and 6 items, respectively, whereas there was no appreciable decrease in post-treatment QoL measurements in the cooperative group. Multivariate analysis showed that cooperative treatment was particularly beneficial for female patients ≥75 years of age, and patients with status 2 performance.