Ten-year trends of palliative care utilization associated with multiple sclerosis patients in the United States from 2005 to 2014

Palliative Care Aspects in Multiple Sclerosis

CONTEXT

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, chronic, demyelinating, and neurodegenerative disorder of central nervous system, determined by an auto-immune dysfunction. Severe disability generally occurs in patients with progressive forms of MS that typically develop either after an earlier relapsing phase or less commonly from disease onset. Despite advances in research to slow the progression of MS, this condition remains a life-limiting disease with symptoms impacting negatively the lives of patients and caregivers.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the difefrent aspects of palliative cae in patients with MS.

METHODS

To analyse selected literature assessing several palliative care aspects in patients with MS.

RESULTS

People with MS have complex symptoms and different needs. These demands include how to deal with the burden of physical disability, how to organise daily life, restructuring social roles in the family and at work, keeping self-sufficiency in personal care, and preserving personal identity and community roles.

CONCLUSION

An early palliative care approach aims to improve the palliative care skills and competencies of health professionals caring for the patients since the early stage of disease, including those who are actively undergoing disease-targeted therapies, rather than merely providing end-of-life care.

Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know about Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, immune-mediated, neurodegenerative condition of the central nervous system, with distinct challenges due to its heterogeneous presentation, prognostic uncertainty, and variable clinical course of neurological and non-neurological symptoms and disability. Although there have been significant advances in management of MS, many patients experience disability progression. Despite MS being a frequent cause of neurological disability, particularly in young persons, involvement of palliative care physicians in the care of patients with MS has been limited. This article provides ten tips for palliative clinicians for caring for patients with MS and their care partners.

Palliative care and healthcare utilization among metastatic breast cancer patients in U.S. Hospitals

There is a lack of research focused on understanding the different characteristics and healthcare utilization of metastatic breast cancer patients by palliative care use. This study aims to investigate trend of in-patient palliative care and its association with healthcare utilization among hospitalized metastatic breast cancer patients in the US. National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was used to identify nationwide metastatic breast cancer patients (n = 5209, weighted n = 25,961) from 2010 to 2014. We examined the characteristics of the study sample by palliative care and its association with healthcare utilization, measured by discounted hospital charges and length of stay. Multivariable survey regression models were used to identify predictors. Among 26,961 breast cancer patients, 19.0% had palliative care. Percentage of receiving palliative care during the period were gradually increased. Social factors including race, insurance types were also associated with a receipt of palliative care. Survey linear regression results showed that patients with palliative care were associated with 31% lower hospital charges, however, length of stays were not significantly associated. This study found evidence of who was associated with the receipt of palliative care and its relationship with healthcare utilization. This study also emphasizes the importance of receiving palliative care in patients with breast cancer, paving the way for future research into ways to improve palliative care in cancer patients. This study also found social differences and gave evidence of programs that could be used to help vulnerable groups in future health policy decisions.

Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article provides an update on progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) commonly referred to as primary progressive MS and secondary progressive MS. It discusses the importance of diagnosing and detecting progression early, the similarities between progressive forms, challenges in detecting progression, factors that could augment progression, and the importance of disease-modifying therapies in patients with evidence of active progressive MS. It also discusses the overall care of progressive MS.

RECENT FINDINGS

The pathogenesis of primary progressive MS and secondary progressive MS is overlapping, and in both presentations, patients with relapses or focal MRI activity are classified as having active, progressive MS. All currently approved disease-modifying therapies are indicated for active secondary progressive MS. The therapeutic opportunity of anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of progressive MS is enhanced in those who are younger and have a shorter disease duration. Vascular comorbidities may contribute to progression in MS.

SUMMARY

Several challenges remain in the diagnosis, follow-up, and treatment of progressive MS. Early identification of active progressive MS is needed to maximize treatment benefit. The advantages of optimal comorbidity management (eg, hypertension, hyperlipidemia) in delaying progression are uncertain. Clinical care guidelines for advanced, severe MS are lacking.

Models of Care in Multiple Sclerosis: A Survey of Canadian Health Providers

Objective

Little work has evaluated integrated models of care in multiple sclerosis (MS) and the composition of MS care teams across Canada is largely unknown. We aimed to gather information regarding existing models of MS care across Canada, and to assess the perceptions of health care providers (HCPs) regarding the models of care required to fully meet the needs of the person with MS.

Methods

We conducted an anonymous online survey targeting Canadian HCPs working in MS Clinics, and neurologists delivering MS care whether or not they were based in an MS Clinic. We queried the types of HCPs delivering care within formal MS Clinics, wait times for HCPs, the perceived importance of different types of HCPs for good quality care, assessments conducted, and whether clinic databases were used. We summarized survey responses using descriptive statistics.

Results

Of the 716 HCPs to whom the survey was distributed, 100 (13.9%) people responded. Of the 100 respondents, 85 (85%) indicated that their clinical practice included people with MS and responded to specific questions about clinical care. The most common types of providers within MS Clinics with integrated models of care were neurologists and MS nurses. Of 23 responding MS Clinics, 10 (43.5%) indicated that there were not enough neurologists, and 16 (69.6%) indicated that there were not enough non-neurologist HCPs to provide adequate care. More than 50% of clinics reported wait times exceeding 3 months for physiatrists, physiotherapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, neuropsychologists and urologists; in some clinics wait times for these providers exceeded 1 year. Multiple disciplines were identified as important or very important for delivering good quality MS care. Over 90% of respondents thought it was important for neurologists, nurse practitioners, MS nurses and psychiatrists to be co-located within MS Clinics.

Conclusion

Canadian HCPs viewed the ideal MS service as being multidisciplinary in nature and ideally integrated. Efforts are needed to improve timely access to specialized MS care in Canada, and to evaluate how outcomes are influenced by access to care.

Ten-year trends of utilizing palliative care and palliative procedures in patients with gastric Cancer in the United States from 2009 to 2018 - a nationwide database study

Objectives

Little is known about the current status and the changing trends of hospitalization and palliative care consultation of patients with gastric cancer in the United States. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changing trend in the number of hospitalization, palliative care consultation, and palliative procedures in the US during a recent 10-year period using a nationwide database.

Methods

This was a retrospective study that analyzed the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database of 2009–2018. Patients aged more than 18 years who were diagnosed with a gastric cancer using International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 and 10 codes were included. Palliative care consultation included palliative care (ICD-9, V66.7; ICD-10, Z51.5) and advanced care planning (ICD-9, V69.89; ICD-10, Z71.89). Palliative procedures included percutaneous or endoscopic bypass, gastrostomy or enterostomy, dilation, drainage, nutrition, and irrigation for palliative purpose.

Results and discussion

A total of 86,430 patients were selected and analyzed in this study. Using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) approach, the annual number of hospitalizations of gastric cancer patients was found to be decreased during 2009–2018 (CAGR: -0.8%, P = 0.0084), while utilization rates of palliative care and palliative procedures increased (CAGR: 9.3 and 1.6%, respectively; P < 0.0001). Multivariable regression analysis revealed that palliative care consultation was associated with reduced total hospital charges (−$34,188, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Utilization of palliative care consultation to patients with gastric cancer may reduce use of medical resources and hospital costs.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-021-07404-1.

Palliative Care and Life-Sustaining/Local Procedures in Colorectal Cancer in the United States Hospitals: A Ten-Year Perspective

Background

In recent years, palliative care utilization has been increasing while life-sustaining/local procedures have been declining at the end of life. Palliative care utilization widely varies based on tumor type. Limited information is available on inpatient palliative care in colorectal cancer.

Aims

This study investigated inpatient palliative care utilization and its association with patient demographics, hospital charges, and procedures among colorectal cancer patients admitted to US hospitals between 2008 and 2017. Receipt of life-sustaining and local procedures and surgeries were also investigated during the ten years.

Methods

Data were extracted from the National inpatient sample (NIS) database containing de-identified information from each hospitalization. Codes V66.7 for ICD-9-CM or Z51.5 for ICD-10-CM were used to find palliative care utilization. Data were analyzed using generalized regression with adjustment for variations in predictors. The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) was calculated for palliative care and procedures over time.

Results

Of the 487,027 colorectal cancer hospitalizations, only 6.04% utilized palliative care. This percentage significantly increased over time from 2.3% in 2008 to 9.3% in 2017 (P<0.0001). Palliative care utilization sizably decreased hospital charges by $18,010 per hospitalization (P<0.0001) and was positively associated with female gender, severe disease, and age over 80 years (P≤ 0.05). Palliative care utilization was inversely associated with using life-sustaining and local procedures and surgeries (P<0.0001). Life-sustaining procedures (intubation, infusion of concentrate nutrients, dialysis, and blood transfusion) and surgeries were decreased over time (P<0.001).

Conclusions

Palliative care utilization increased over time and was inversely associated with hospital charges and performing procedures among colorectal cancer patients. Our findings warrant further research and interventions to increase palliative care utilization in colorectal cancer.

Critical illness in patients with metastatic cancer: a population-based cohort study of epidemiology and outcomes

The appropriateness of intensive care unit (ICU) admission of patients with metastatic cancer remains debated. We aimed to examine the short-term outcomes and their temporal pattern in critically ill patients with metastatic disease. We used state-wide data to identify hospitalizations aged ≥18 years with metastatic cancer admitted to ICU in Texas during 2010-2014. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to examine the factors associated with short-term mortality and its temporal trends among all ICU admissions and those undergoing mechanical ventilation. Among 136,644 ICU admissions with metastatic cancer, 50.8% were aged ≥65 years, with one or more organ failures present in 53.3% and mechanical ventilation was used in 11.1%. The crude short-term mortality among all ICU admissions and those mechanically ventilated was 28.1% and 62.0%, respectively. Discharge to home occurred in 57.1% of all ICU admissions. On adjusted analyses, short-term mortality increased with rising number of organ failures (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.399, 95% CI 1.374 to 1.425), while being lower with chemotherapy (aOR 0.467, 95% CI 0.432 to 0.506) and radiation therapy (aOR 0.832, 95% CI 0.749 to 0.924), and decreased over time (aOR 0.934 per year, 95% CI 0.924 to 0.945). Predictors of short-term mortality were largely similar among those undergoing mechanical ventilation. Most ICU admissions with metastatic cancer survived hospitalization, although short-term mortality was very high among those undergoing mechanical ventilation. Short-term mortality decreased over time and was lower among those receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These findings support consideration of critical care in patients with metastatic cancer, but underscore the need to address patient-centered goals of care ahead of ICU admission.

Satisfaction of Patients With Severe Multiple Sclerosis and Their Family Members With Palliative Care: Interventional Study

BACKGROUND

Patients with MS should be provided palliative care, which could help them manage symptoms more efficiently and could solve some psychosocial problems. Evaluating the satisfaction with provided care may be one of the factors of the quality of care evaluation.

AIM

The aim of this controlled intervention study was to determine the factors affecting one's satisfaction with care in patients in advanced stages of MS and their caregivers. Furthermore, the aim was to study the difference in the satisfaction of patients and family members with the provided specialized palliative care, as opposed to the standard care.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 103 patients with MS who were randomized to either a palliative care intervention or the control group. Family members of each patient were invited in the study, and 97 caregivers agreed to participe. The patients in the intervention group were provided with neuropalliative care in the form of consultations with a multidisciplinary palliative team. A modified questionnaire, CANHELP Lite, was used to collect data. Patients and family members completed the questionnaire 3 months after the intervention.

RESULTS

The patients and caregivers in the intervention group expressed significantly greater satisfaction in all analyzed areas (p = 0.000-0.002). The provided intervention predicted the satisfaction in the domains of a relationship with the doctor, disease management, and decision-making/communication. Another important predictor of the satisfaction in all domains was the functional state of the patient.

CONCLUSION

Targeted consultations resulted in the greater satisfaction of patients with MS and their caregivers with the provided care.

Patient Risk Factor Profiles Associated With the Timing of Goals-of-Care Consultation Before Death: A Classification and Regression Tree Analysis

Background:

Early palliative care consultation (“PCC”) to discuss goals-of-care benefits seriously ill patients. Risk factor profiles associated with the timing of conversations in hospitals, where late conversations most likely occur, are needed.

Objective:

To identify risk factor patient profiles associated with PCC timing before death.

Methods:

Secondary analysis of an observational study was conducted at an urban, academic medical center. Patients aged 18 years and older admitted to the medical center, who had PCC, and died July 1, 2014 to October 31, 2016, were included. Patients admitted for childbirth or rehabilitationand patients whose date of death was unknown were excluded. Classification and Regression Tree modeling was employed using demographic and clinical variables.

Results:

Of 1141 patients, 54% had PCC “close to death” (0-14 days before death); 26% had PCC 15 to 60 days before death; 21% had PCC >60 days before death (median 13 days before death). Variables associated with receiving PCC close to death included being Hispanic or “Other” race/ethnicity intensive care patients with extreme illness severity (85%), with age <46 or >75 increasing this probability (98%). Intensive care patients with extreme illness severity were also likely to receive PCC close to death (64%) as were 50% of intensive care patients with less than extreme illness severity.

Conclusions:

A majority of patients received PCC close to death. A complex set of variable interactions were associated with PCC timing. A systematic process for engaging patients with PCC earlier in the care continuum, and in intensive care regardless of illness severity, is needed.

Trends in the Utilization of Life-Sustaining Procedures and Palliative Care Consultation Among Dying Patients With Advanced Chronic Pancreas Illnesses in US Hospitals: 2005 to 2014

AIM

Pancreas cancer continues to carry a poor prognosis. Hospitalized patients with advanced chronic pancreatic illnesses increasingly receive palliative care due to its perceived clinical benefits. Meanwhile, a growing proportion of elderly patients are reportedly receiving life-sustaining procedures. Temporal trends in the utilization of life-sustaining procedures and palliative care consultation among dying patients with advanced chronic pancreatic illnesses in US hospitals were examined.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A serial, cross-sectional analysis was carried out using the National Inpatient Sample Database. Decedents 18 years and older with a principal diagnosis of pancreas cancer or other advanced chronic pancreatic illnesses from 2005 through 2014. The compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) and Cochrane-Armitage correction of χ² statistic were used. The receipt of life-sustaining systemic procedures, intra-abdominal local procedures and surgeries, and palliative care consultation were examined. Multilevel multivariate logistic regressions were performed to examine the association of various procedures with the utilization of palliative care consultation.

RESULTS

Among 77 394 183 hospitalizations, 29 515 patients were examined. The CAGRs of systemic procedures, intra-abdominal procedures, surgeries, and palliative care were -4.19% (P = .008), 2.17%, -1.40%, and 14.03% (P < .001), respectively. The receipt of systemic procedures (odds ratio [OR] = 2.40, 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.08-2.74), local intra-abdominal procedures (OR = 1.46, 95% CI, 1.27-1.70), and surgeries (OR = 2.51, 95% CI, 2.07-3.05) was associated with palliative care consultation (Ps < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Among adults with pancreatic cancer or other advanced chronic pancreatic illnesses in the US hospitals from 2005 to 2014, the utilization of life-sustaining systemic procedures decreased while the prevalence of palliative care consultation increased.