Overview of Sankey flow diagrams: Focusing on symptom trajectories in older adults with advanced cancer

Abstract

This perspectives paper provides an overview of how to read and interpret a Sankey, examples using symptom data from older adults with advanced cancer, a synopsis of medical literature, and comments on creating and using the diagram for presentation of data. From prior reports and our own, we conclude Sankeys are an excellent tool for visualizing the changing status of older patients with cancer. Older adult symptom data is used as an example with data dispalyed in a range of Sankey flow diagrams. Because there is large heterogeneity in aging, different subgroups can be examined. In a single diagram, Sankey can show both the likelihood and variability of patients' future status from their current status.

Keywords: Data visualization; Flow diagrams; Older adults; PRO-CTCAE; Sankey; Symptoms.