Carolyn L Mulvey1, Thomas J Smith2, Christine G Gourin1. 1. Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. 2. Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Substantial health care resources are used on aggressive end-of-life care, despite an increasing recognition that palliative care improves quality of life and reduces health care costs. We examined the incidence of palliative care encounters in in-patients with incurable head and neck cancer and associations with in-hospital mortality, length of hospitalization, and costs. METHODS: Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) for 80,514 head and neck cancer patients with distant metastatic disease in 2001 to 2010 was analyzed using cross-tabulations and multivariate regressions. RESULTS: Palliative care encounters occurred in 4029 cases (5%) and were significantly associated with age ≥80 years, female sex, self-pay payor status, and prior radiation. Palliative care was significantly associated with increased in-hospital mortality and reduced hospital-related costs. CONCLUSION: Inpatient palliative care consultation in terminal head and neck cancer is associated with reduced hospital-related costs, but appears to be underutilized and restricted to the elderly, uninsured, and patients with an increased risk of mortality.
BACKGROUND: Substantial health care resources are used on aggressive end-of-life care, despite an increasing recognition that palliative care improves quality of life and reduces health care costs. We examined the incidence of palliative care encounters in in-patients with incurable head and neck cancer and associations with in-hospital mortality, length of hospitalization, and costs. METHODS: Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) for 80,514 head and neck cancerpatients with distant metastatic disease in 2001 to 2010 was analyzed using cross-tabulations and multivariate regressions. RESULTS: Palliative care encounters occurred in 4029 cases (5%) and were significantly associated with age ≥80 years, female sex, self-pay payor status, and prior radiation. Palliative care was significantly associated with increased in-hospital mortality and reduced hospital-related costs. CONCLUSION: Inpatient palliative care consultation in terminal head and neck cancer is associated with reduced hospital-related costs, but appears to be underutilized and restricted to the elderly, uninsured, and patients with an increased risk of mortality.
Authors: Jane C Weeks; Paul J Catalano; Angel Cronin; Matthew D Finkelman; Jennifer W Mack; Nancy L Keating; Deborah Schrag Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2012-10-25 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Glenn Gade; Ingrid Venohr; Douglas Conner; Kathleen McGrady; Jeffrey Beane; Robert H Richardson; Marilyn P Williams; Marcia Liberson; Mark Blum; Richard Della Penna Journal: J Palliat Med Date: 2008-03 Impact factor: 2.947
Authors: Andreas M Sesterhenn; Benedikt J Folz; Michael Bieker; Afshin Teymoortash; Jochen A Werner Journal: Cancer Nurs Date: 2008 Mar-Apr Impact factor: 2.592
Authors: Thomas J Smith; Sarah Temin; Erin R Alesi; Amy P Abernethy; Tracy A Balboni; Ethan M Basch; Betty R Ferrell; Matt Loscalzo; Diane E Meier; Judith A Paice; Jeffrey M Peppercorn; Mark Somerfield; Ellen Stovall; Jamie H Von Roenn Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2012-02-06 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: Lisa D DiMartino; Bryan J Weiner; Laura C Hanson; Morris Weinberger; Sarah A Birken; Katherine Reeder-Hayes; Justin G Trogdon Journal: Healthc (Amst) Date: 2017-12-19
Authors: Sandhya Yadav; Isaac W Heller; Nancy Schaefer; Ramzi G Salloum; Sheri M Kittelson; Diana J Wilkie; Jinhai Huo Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2020-05-21 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Faiz Gani; Zachary O Enumah; Alison M Conca-Cheng; Joseph K Canner; Fabian M Johnston Journal: J Palliat Med Date: 2017-11-03 Impact factor: 2.947
Authors: Meghan Price; Elizabeth P Howell; Tara Dalton; Luis Ramirez; Claire Howell; Theresa Williamson; Peter E Fecci; Carey K Anders; Devon K Check; Arif H Kamal; C Rory Goodwin Journal: Neurooncol Pract Date: 2021-02-24