David Hui1, Zhijun Li, Gary B Chisholm, Neha Didwaniya, Eduardo Bruera. 1. Department of Palliative Care & Rehabilitation Medicine Unit 1414, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA, dhui@mdanderson.org.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The decision-making process for medication use in the last weeks of life is complex because of patient frailty and poor prognosis. Limited literature is available on medication use in the palliative care setting, particularly in acute palliative care units (APCUs). We examined the changes in medication profile among hospitalized patients with advanced cancer before their palliative care inpatient consultation team referral, after palliative care consultation, at the time of APCU admission, and at APCU discharge or death. METHODS: We included consecutive patients with advanced cancer who were first seen by our inpatient palliative care consultation team and subsequently admitted to the APCU. We retrieved data on all scheduled medications at the prespecified time points. RESULTS: Among the 100 patients, the median duration of hospitalization was 10.5 days (interquartile range 8-15 days), and the median APCU stay was 5 days (interquartile range 3-7 days). The average number of medications before palliative care inpatient consultation team referral, after palliative care consultation, at APCU admission and at APCU discharge/death was 9.2 (standard deviation [SD] 4.5), 9.9 (SD 4.2), 10.3 (SD 3.8), and 10.1 (SD 3.8), respectively (P = 0.03). An increasing proportion of patients received medications for symptom control over their course of hospitalization, including systemic corticosteroids, laxatives, neuroleptics, and antiulcer agents (P < 0.05). In contrast, the frequency of several classes of medications such as antihypertensives, antilipemics, and anticonvulsants decreased over time (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Palliative care involvement was associated with an increase in symptom control medications and decrease in medications for comorbid conditions over time.
PURPOSE: The decision-making process for medication use in the last weeks of life is complex because of patient frailty and poor prognosis. Limited literature is available on medication use in the palliative care setting, particularly in acute palliative care units (APCUs). We examined the changes in medication profile among hospitalized patients with advanced cancer before their palliative care inpatient consultation team referral, after palliative care consultation, at the time of APCU admission, and at APCU discharge or death. METHODS: We included consecutive patients with advanced cancer who were first seen by our inpatient palliative care consultation team and subsequently admitted to the APCU. We retrieved data on all scheduled medications at the prespecified time points. RESULTS: Among the 100 patients, the median duration of hospitalization was 10.5 days (interquartile range 8-15 days), and the median APCU stay was 5 days (interquartile range 3-7 days). The average number of medications before palliative care inpatient consultation team referral, after palliative care consultation, at APCU admission and at APCU discharge/death was 9.2 (standard deviation [SD] 4.5), 9.9 (SD 4.2), 10.3 (SD 3.8), and 10.1 (SD 3.8), respectively (P = 0.03). An increasing proportion of patients received medications for symptom control over their course of hospitalization, including systemic corticosteroids, laxatives, neuroleptics, and antiulcer agents (P < 0.05). In contrast, the frequency of several classes of medications such as antihypertensives, antilipemics, and anticonvulsants decreased over time (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Palliative care involvement was associated with an increase in symptom control medications and decrease in medications for comorbid conditions over time.
Authors: N J H Raijmakers; L van Zuylen; C J Furst; M Beccaro; L Maiorana; P Pilastri; C Rossi; G Flego; A van der Heide; M Costantini Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2012-10-14 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: F Amos Bailey; Beverly R Williams; Lesa L Woodby; Patricia S Goode; David T Redden; Thomas K Houston; U Shanette Granstaff; Theodore M Johnson; Leslye C Pennypacker; K Sue Haddock; John M Painter; Jessie M Spencer; Thomas Hartney; Kathryn L Burgio Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2014-06 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: David Hui; Ahmed Elsayem; Maxine De la Cruz; Ann Berger; Donna S Zhukovsky; Shana Palla; Avery Evans; Nada Fadul; J Lynn Palmer; Eduardo Bruera Journal: JAMA Date: 2010-03-17 Impact factor: 56.272