Talita Caroline de Oliveira Valentino1, Carlos Eduardo Paiva2, David Hui3, Marco Antonio de Oliveira1, Bianca Sakamoto Ribeiro Paiva4. 1. Research Group on Palliative Care and Health-Related Quality of Life (GPQual), Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil. 2. Research Group on Palliative Care and Health-Related Quality of Life (GPQual), Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil; Oncology Graduate Program, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Clinical Oncology, Breast and Gynecology Division, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil. 3. Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA. 4. Research Group on Palliative Care and Health-Related Quality of Life (GPQual), Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil; Oncology Graduate Program, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: bsrpaiva@gmail.com.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Many patients with advanced cancer experience aggressive care during the end of life (EOL). Several studies have evaluated the benefits of palliative care (PC) on the reduction of aggressive measures; however, limited data are available about their benefit in Brazilian patients. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of PC on the reduction of aggressive measures at the EOL. METHODS: Longitudinal study analyzed retrospectively medical records of patients who died of advanced cancer from 2010 to 2014. Data were obtained on PC referral and five quality-of-care indicators at the EOL; that is, emergency department visits, hospital admission, intensive care unit admission, use of systemic antineoplastic therapy within the last 30 days of life, and place of death in hospital as well as the use of a composite score for aggressiveness of care. RESULTS: Of the 1284 patients, 832 (65%) received some aggressive measures in EOL care. Over the years, there was a reduction in the aggressiveness of care (score = 0: 33.2% vs. 47.1%; P < 0.001). Patients not seen by PC received greater aggressive care compared with patients consulted by PC (score ≥1: 87.4% vs. 52.8%; P < 0.001). Early PC was associated with less chemotherapy (P = 0.001) and fewer emergency department visits (P = 0.004) in the last 30 days of life, when compared with late PC. However, there were no demonstrated benefits to significantly reduce the composite score at EOL care aggressiveness. CONCLUSION: Patients with an advanced cancer consultation by PC staff received less aggressive care at the EOL when compared with patients without PC.
CONTEXT: Many patients with advanced cancer experience aggressive care during the end of life (EOL). Several studies have evaluated the benefits of palliative care (PC) on the reduction of aggressive measures; however, limited data are available about their benefit in Brazilian patients. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of PC on the reduction of aggressive measures at the EOL. METHODS: Longitudinal study analyzed retrospectively medical records of patients who died of advanced cancer from 2010 to 2014. Data were obtained on PC referral and five quality-of-care indicators at the EOL; that is, emergency department visits, hospital admission, intensive care unit admission, use of systemic antineoplastic therapy within the last 30 days of life, and place of death in hospital as well as the use of a composite score for aggressiveness of care. RESULTS: Of the 1284 patients, 832 (65%) received some aggressive measures in EOL care. Over the years, there was a reduction in the aggressiveness of care (score = 0: 33.2% vs. 47.1%; P < 0.001). Patients not seen by PC received greater aggressive care compared with patients consulted by PC (score ≥1: 87.4% vs. 52.8%; P < 0.001). Early PC was associated with less chemotherapy (P = 0.001) and fewer emergency department visits (P = 0.004) in the last 30 days of life, when compared with late PC. However, there were no demonstrated benefits to significantly reduce the composite score at EOL care aggressiveness. CONCLUSION:Patients with an advanced cancer consultation by PC staff received less aggressive care at the EOL when compared with patients without PC.
Authors: Jeannette Vogt; Franziska Beyer; Jochen Sistermanns; Jonas Kuon; Christoph Kahl; Bernd Alt-Epping; Susanne Stevens; Miriam Ahlborn; Christian George; Andrea Heider; Maria Tienken; Carmen Loquai; Kerstin Stahlhut; Anne Ruellan; Thomas Kubin; Andreas Dietz; Karin Oechsle; Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf; Birgitt van Oorschot; Michael Thomas; Olaf Ortmann; Christoph Engel; Florian Lordick Journal: Oncologist Date: 2021-03-30