Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Non-specific symptoms are common and often sign of a non-serious disease. Because of this, patients with non-specific symptoms of cancer (NSSC) present a challenge for general practitioners (GP). Studies describing characteristics of patients with NSSC have been done after fast-track pathways were created to diagnose and treat patients with NSSC. This study reviews characteristics of patients with NSSC and their patient pathways.
METHODS: Database searches of Embase, Cochrane, PubMed, Cinahl and Web of Science were performed. Search terms used were cancer, patient pathway, and NSSC with their synonyms. The flow diagram Preferring Reporting Items for Systematic Review was applied to the systematic search. The Newcastle-Ottawa Assessment Scale (NOS) was used to compare the quality of the included studies.
RESULTS: Twelve studies met the inclusion criterias. All studies were considered to be of high methodological quality. Patient Pathway: 11-35% of patients were diagnosed with cancer. Median number of days through diagnostic process was 7-10.
METHODS: The most prevalent cancers included hematological-(14-30%), gastrointestinal-(13-23%) and lung cancers (13%). Rheumatological, musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal diseases were among the most common non-malignant diseases diagnosed. Weight loss, fatigue, pain and loss of appetite were the most common symptoms. Cardiovascular diseases, lung diseases, diabetes and previous diagnosed cancer were the most common comorbidities. Mean age of included patients was 60-72 years.
CONCLUSIONS: Limited number of studies were found and they lacked sufficient heterogenic data to conduct a metaanalysis. Symptoms, diagnoses, age and gender were described with some heterogenic results. Further studies should be conducted to gather broader knowledge about patients with NSSC.
METHODS: Database searches of Embase, Cochrane, PubMed, Cinahl and Web of Science were performed. Search terms used were cancer, patient pathway, and NSSC with their synonyms. The flow diagram Preferring Reporting Items for Systematic Review was applied to the systematic search. The Newcastle-Ottawa Assessment Scale (NOS) was used to compare the quality of the included studies.
RESULTS: Twelve studies met the inclusion criterias. All studies were considered to be of high methodological quality. Patient Pathway: 11-35% of patients were diagnosed with cancer. Median number of days through diagnostic process was 7-10.
METHODS: The most prevalent cancers included hematological-(14-30%), gastrointestinal-(13-23%) and lung cancers (13%). Rheumatological, musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal diseases were among the most common non-malignant diseases diagnosed. Weight loss, fatigue, pain and loss of appetite were the most common symptoms. Cardiovascular diseases, lung diseases, diabetes and previous diagnosed cancer were the most common comorbidities. Mean age of included patients was 60-72 years.
CONCLUSIONS: Limited number of studies were found and they lacked sufficient heterogenic data to conduct a metaanalysis. Symptoms, diagnoses, age and gender were described with some heterogenic results. Further studies should be conducted to gather broader knowledge about patients with NSSC.
摘要：
背景：非特异性症状是常见的，通常是非严重疾病的征兆。正因为如此,具有非特异性癌症症状(NSSC)的患者对全科医生(GP)提出了挑战.在创建快速通道途径以诊断和治疗NSSC患者之后，已经进行了描述NSSC患者特征的研究。本研究回顾了NSSC患者的特征及其患者路径。
方法：数据库搜索Embase，科克伦,PubMed,进行了Cinahl和WebofScience。使用的搜索词是癌症，患者路径,和NSSC及其同义词。将系统审查的首选报告项目流程图应用于系统搜索。采用纽卡斯尔-渥太华评估量表(NOS)比较纳入研究的质量。
结果：12项研究符合纳入标准。所有研究均被认为具有较高的方法学质量。患者路径:11-35%的患者被诊断患有癌症。通过诊断过程的中位天数为7-10天。
方法：最普遍的癌症包括血液-（14-30％），胃肠道（13-23%）和肺癌（13%）。风湿病,肌肉骨骼和胃肠道疾病是诊断出的最常见的非恶性疾病之一。减肥,疲劳,疼痛和食欲不振是最常见的症状.心血管疾病,肺部疾病,糖尿病和以前诊断的癌症是最常见的合并症.纳入患者的平均年龄为60-72岁。
结论：研究数量有限，缺乏足够的异源性数据进行荟萃分析。症状,诊断,年龄和性别被描述为一些异源性结果。应进行进一步的研究，以收集有关NSSC患者的更广泛的知识。
方法：数据库搜索Embase，科克伦,PubMed,进行了Cinahl和WebofScience。使用的搜索词是癌症，患者路径,和NSSC及其同义词。将系统审查的首选报告项目流程图应用于系统搜索。采用纽卡斯尔-渥太华评估量表(NOS)比较纳入研究的质量。
结果：12项研究符合纳入标准。所有研究均被认为具有较高的方法学质量。患者路径:11-35%的患者被诊断患有癌症。通过诊断过程的中位天数为7-10天。
方法：最普遍的癌症包括血液-（14-30％），胃肠道（13-23%）和肺癌（13%）。风湿病,肌肉骨骼和胃肠道疾病是诊断出的最常见的非恶性疾病之一。减肥,疲劳,疼痛和食欲不振是最常见的症状.心血管疾病,肺部疾病,糖尿病和以前诊断的癌症是最常见的合并症.纳入患者的平均年龄为60-72岁。
结论：研究数量有限，缺乏足够的异源性数据进行荟萃分析。症状,诊断,年龄和性别被描述为一些异源性结果。应进行进一步的研究，以收集有关NSSC患者的更广泛的知识。
