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Dullea JT, Vasan V, Devarajan A, Ali M, Nichols N, Chaluts D, Henson P, Porras C, Lopez C, Luna D, Liou L, Bederson J, Shrivastava RK. Utilization of Palliative Care Services Among Patients With Malignant Brain Tumors: An Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample (2016-2019). Neurosurgery 2023; 93:419-426. [PMID: 36867460 DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000002428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent advances in treatment of malignant brain tumors have improved outcomes. However, patients continue to experience significant disability. Palliative care helps patients with advanced illnesses improve their quality of life. There is a paucity of clinical studies examining palliative care usage among patients with malignant brain tumors. OBJECTIVE To assess if there were any patterns in palliative care utilization among patients hospitalized with malignant brain tumors. METHODS A retrospective cohort representing hospitalizations for malignant brain tumors was created from The National Inpatient Sample (2016-2019). Palliative care utilization was identified by ICD-10 code. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models, accounting for the sample design, were built to evaluate the demographic variables associated with palliative care consultation in all patients and fatal hospitalizations. RESULTS 375 010 patients admitted with a malignant brain tumor were included in this study. Over the whole cohort, 15.0% of patients used palliative care. In fatal hospitalizations, Black and Hispanic patients had 28% lower odds of receiving a palliative care consultation compared with White patients (odds ratio for both = 0.72; P = .02). For fatal hospitalizations, patients insured privately were 34% more likely to use palliative care services compared with patients insured with Medicare (odds ratio = 1.34, P = .006). CONCLUSION Palliative care is underutilized among all patients with malignant brain tumors. Within this population, disparities in utilization are exacerbated by sociodemographic factors. Prospective studies investigating utilization disparities across race and insurance status are necessary to improve access to palliative care services for this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan T Dullea
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Vikram Vasan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Alex Devarajan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Muhammad Ali
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Noah Nichols
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Danielle Chaluts
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Phil Henson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Christian Porras
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Christine Lopez
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Diego Luna
- Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Lathan Liou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Joshua Bederson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Raj K Shrivastava
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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Shieh LT, Ho CH, Guo HR, Ho YC, Ho SY. Comparison of healthcare utilization and life-sustaining interventions between patients with glioblastoma receiving palliative care or not: A population-based study. Palliat Med 2023; 37:824-833. [PMID: 36789966 DOI: 10.1177/02692163231152526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Palliative care has historically been under-utilized in patients with glioblastoma. Furthermore, literature on the utilization of healthcare and life-sustaining interventions during the late-stage of glioblastoma has been limited. AIM To identify and compare healthcare utilization and life-sustaining interventions between patients with glioblastoma who received palliative care and who did not based on patients identified retrospectively from Taiwan Cancer Registry between January 2007 and December 2017. DESIGN In this study, palliative care was defined on the basis of claims submitted to the National Health Insurance, which has a specific code for it. Variables included demographic characteristics, the utilization of healthcare services, and invasive life-sustaining interventions. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS Of the 1994 patients with glioblastoma identified, 1784 fulfilled the inclusion criteria, 613 (34%) of whom received palliative care. RESULTS The survival of patients with glioblastoma under palliative care was significantly longer than that of those without palliative care. Those without palliative care had significantly more frequent intensive care unit admissions and a longer cumulative length of intensive care unit stay. Regarding cardiopulmonary or respiratory treatments, patients without palliative care had significantly more invasive interventions than those with palliative care. Patients receiving palliative care had significantly lower odds than those without life-sustaining interventions. CONCLUSIONS Our retrospective analysis reveals that glioblastoma patients without palliative care had greater odds of receiving life-sustaining treatments within 1 year before their death, although no gains in survival as compared to those that received palliative care. These findings highlight the urgent need for palliative care in caring for patients with glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Tsun Shieh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Han Ho
- Department of Medical Research, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Hospital and Health Care Administration, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - How-Ran Guo
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chia Ho
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Yow Ho
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Tainan, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, Taiwan
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Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues in Patients with Brain Cancer Admitted to ICU. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:medicina59020288. [PMID: 36837489 PMCID: PMC9962237 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59020288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Palliative care is an interdisciplinary medical specialty focused on improving the quality of life of critically ill patients, including those with frailty, during their illness. Materials and Methods: We conducted an extensive literature review on Pubmed focusing on palliative care in neuro-oncology patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). Results: We identified 967 articles and, after excluding 952 articles in accordance with the PRISMA flow chart, we included a total of 15 articles in the final selection. The potential role of palliative care in neuro-oncology appears necessary to ensure comprehensive end-of-life patient care. However, this seems underestimated and poorly applied, especially in the context of intensive care units. Medical personnel also face ethical dilemmas, considering not only the pathology but also the socio-spiritual context of the patient. In addition, caregivers' understanding of prognosis and realistic goals is critical for optimal end-of-life management. Conclusions: The provision of palliative care to neuro-oncological patients admitted to ICU is a complex challenge supported by fragmented evidence. Additional research on palliative care and communication about end-of-life care in the neuro-oncology and neuro-ICU setting is needed.
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Neurosurgical Defeats: Critically Ill Patients and the Role of Palliative Care Service. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12101565. [PMID: 36294704 PMCID: PMC9605179 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12101565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The onco-functional balance in neuro-oncology requires maximizing tumor removal while rigorously preserving patients’ neurological status. When postoperative worsening prevents the implementation of oncologic treatments, palliative care service offers an individualized path for symptom and psychosocial distress relief. Here, we report on a series of 25 patients operated on for malignant brain tumor who did not undergo adjuvant treatments after neurosurgery; they represented 3.9% of the whole institutional surgical series. These patients were significantly older and had a lower preoperative Karnofsky performance status than the whole cohort. Importantly, in 22 out of 25 (88%) cases, a surgical complication occurred, leading to clinical worsening in 21 patients. For the end of life, the majority of patients chose a hospice care facility (72%). While a careful selection of brain tumor patients candidate to neurosurgery is required, palliative care service provided invaluable help in coping with patients’ and caregivers’ needs.
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Grudzen CR, Barker PC, Bischof JJ, Cuthel AM, Isaacs ED, Southerland LT, Yamarik RL. Palliative care models for patients living with advanced cancer: a narrative review for the emergency department clinician. EMERGENCY CANCER CARE 2022; 1:10. [PMID: 35966217 PMCID: PMC9362452 DOI: 10.1186/s44201-022-00010-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Eighty-one percent of persons living with cancer have an emergency department (ED) visit within the last 6 months of life. Many cancer patients in the ED are at an advanced stage with high symptom burden and complex needs, and over half is admitted to an inpatient setting. Innovative models of care have been developed to provide high quality, ambulatory, and home-based care to persons living with serious, life-limiting illness, such as advanced cancer. New care models can be divided into a number of categories based on either prognosis (e.g., greater than or less than 6 months), or level of care (e.g., lower versus higher intensity needs, such as intravenous pain/nausea medication or frequent monitoring), and goals of care (e.g., cancer-directed treatment versus symptom-focused care only). We performed a narrative review to (1) compare models of care for seriously ill cancer patients in the ED and (2) examine factors that may hasten or impede wider dissemination of these models.
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Wu A, Ugiliweneza B, Wang D, Hsin G, Boakye M, Skirboll S. Trends and outcomes of early and late palliative care consultation for adult patients with glioblastoma: A SEER-Medicare retrospective study. Neurooncol Pract 2022; 9:299-309. [PMID: 35859543 PMCID: PMC9290893 DOI: 10.1093/nop/npac026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Glioblastoma (GBM) carries a poor prognosis despite standard of care. Early palliative care (PC) has been shown to enhance survival and quality of life while reducing healthcare costs for other cancers. This study investigates differences in PC timing on outcomes for patients with GBM. Methods This study used Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare data from 1997 to 2016. Based on ICD codes, three groups were defined: (1) early PC within 10 weeks of diagnosis, (2) late PC, and (3) no PC. Outcomes were compared between the three groups. Results Out of 10 812 patients with GBM, 1648 (15.24%) patients had PC consultation with an overall positive trend over time. There were no significant differences in patient characteristics. The late PC group had significantly higher number of hospice claims (1.06 ± 0.69) compared to those without PC, in the last month of life. There were significant differences in survival among the three groups (P < .0001), with late PC patients with the longest mean time to death from diagnosis (11.72 ± 13.20 months). Conclusion We present the first investigation of PC consultation prevalence and outcomes, stratified by early versus late timing, for adult GBM patients. Despite an overall increase in PC consultations, only a minority of GBM patients receive PC. Patients with late PC had the longest survival times and had greater hospice use in the last month of life compared to other subgroups. Prospective studies can provide additional valuable information about this unique population of patients with GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adela Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Beatrice Ugiliweneza
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
| | - Dengzhi Wang
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
| | - Gary Hsin
- Department of Extended Care and Palliative Medicine Service, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Maxwell Boakye
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
| | - Stephen Skirboll
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
- Section of Neurosurgery, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
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