Missing the obvious: psychosocial obstacles in Veterans with hepatocellular carcinoma

Oncology distress screening within predominately Black Veterans: Outcomes on supportive care utilization, hospitalizations, and mortality

BACKGROUND

We evaluated whether patients' initial screening symptoms were related to subsequent utilization of supportive care services and hospitalizations, and whether patient-level demographics, symptoms, hospitalizations, and supportive care service utilization were associated with mortality in primarily low-income, older, Black Veterans with cancer.

METHODS

This quality improvement project created collaborative clinics to conduct cancer distress screenings and refer to supportive care services at an urban, VA medical center. All patients completed a distress screen with follow-up screening every 3 months. Supportive care utilization, hospitalization rates, and mortality were abstracted through medical records. Poisson regression models and cox proportional hazard models were utilized.

RESULTS

Five hundred and eighty five screened patients were older (m = 72), mostly Black 70% (n = 412), and had advanced cancer 54%. Fifty-eight percent (n = 340) were screened only once with 81% (n = 470) receiving ≥1 supportive care service and 51.5% (n = 297) being hospitalized ≥1 time 18 months following initial screen. Symptom severity was significantly related to number of hospitalizations. Low mood was significantly related to higher supportive services (p < 0.001), but not hospitalizations (p ≥ 0.52). Pain, fatigue, physical function, nutrition, and physical symptoms were significantly associated with more supportive services and hospitalizations (p < 0.01). Twenty percent (n = 168) died; Veterans who were Black, had lower stage cancers, better physical health, and utilized less supportive care services had lower odds of mortality (p ≤ 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Individuals with elevated distress needs and those reporting lower physical function utilized more supportive care services and had higher hospitalization rates. Lower physical function, greater supportive care use, higher stage cancer, and being non-Black were associated with higher odds of death.

Global prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: Systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Depression and anxiety are associated with poorer outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the prevalence of depression and anxiety in HCC are unclear. We aimed to establish the prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with HCC.

METHODS

MEDLINE and Embase were searched and original articles reporting prevalence of anxiety or depression in patients with HCC were included. A generalized linear mixed model with Clopper-Pearson intervals was used to obtain the pooled prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with HCC. Risk factors were analyzed via a fractional-logistic regression model.

RESULTS

Seventeen articles involving 64,247 patients with HCC were included. The pooled prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with HCC was 24.04% (95% confidence interval [CI], 13.99-38.11%) and 22.20% (95% CI, 10.07-42.09%) respectively. Subgroup analysis determined that the prevalence of depression was lowest in studies where depression was diagnosed via clinician-administered scales (16.07%;95% CI, 4.42-44.20%) and highest in self-reported scales (30.03%; 95% CI, 17.19-47.01%). Depression in patients with HCC was lowest in the Americas (16.44%; 95% CI, 6.37-36.27%) and highest in South-East Asia (66.67%; 95% CI, 56.68-75.35%). Alcohol consumption, cirrhosis, and college education significantly increased risk of depression in patients with HCC.

CONCLUSION

One in four patients with HCC have depression, while one in five have anxiety. Further studies are required to validate these findings, as seen from the wide CIs in certain subgroup analyses. Screening strategies for depression and anxiety should also be developed for patients with HCC.

Cancer tracking system improves timeliness of liver cancer care at a Veterans Hospital: A comparison of cohorts before and after implementation of an automated care coordination tool

INTRODUCTION

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) requires complex care coordination. Patient safety may be compromised with untimely follow-up of abnormal liver imaging. This study evaluated whether an electronic case-finding and tracking system improved timeliness of HCC care.

METHODS

An electronic medical record-linked abnormal imaging identification and tracking system was implemented at a Veterans Affairs Hospital. This system reviews all liver radiology reports, generates a queue of abnormal cases for review, and maintains a queue of cancer care events with due dates and automated reminders. This is a pre-/post-intervention cohort study to evaluate whether implementation of this tracking system reduced time between HCC diagnosis and treatment and time between first liver image suspicious for HCC, specialty care, diagnosis, and treatment at a Veterans Hospital. Patients diagnosed with HCC in the 37 months before tracking system implementation were compared to patients diagnosed with HCC in the 71 months after its implementation. Linear regression was used to calculate mean change in relevant intervals of care adjusted for age, race, ethnicity, BCLC stage, and indication for first suspicious image.

RESULTS

There were 60 patients pre-intervention and 127 post-intervention. In the post-intervention group, adjusted mean time from diagnosis to treatment was 36 days shorter (p = 0.007), time from imaging to diagnosis 51 days shorter (p = 0.21), and time from imaging to treatment 87 days shorter (p = 0.05). Patients whose imaging was performed for HCC screening had the greatest improvement in time from diagnosis to treatment (63 days, p = 0.02) and from first suspicious image to treatment (179 days, p = 0.03). The post-intervention group also had a greater proportion of HCC diagnosed at earlier BCLC stages (p<0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

The tracking system improved timeliness of HCC diagnosis and treatment and may be useful for improving HCC care delivery, including in health systems already implementing HCC screening.

Psychosocial Barriers and Their Impact on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Care in US Veterans: Tumor Board Model of Care

BACKGROUND

Psychosocial barriers, including low socioeconomic status, homelessness, alcohol and substance use disorders, and psychiatric disorders are prevalent in US veterans. Our study aims to identify the prevalence of psychosocial barriers in veterans diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and their impact on receipt of cancer care.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was performed of all veterans diagnosed with HCC at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans' Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, whose tumor care was coordinated through a multidisciplinary tumor board. Outcomes included receipt of any HCC-specific therapy and overall survival.

RESULTS

From January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2016, 149 veterans were diagnosed with HCC. Substance use disorders were reported in 124 (83%) patients, psychiatric illness was documented in 55 (37%) patients, 23 (15%) patients had incomes below the poverty threshold, and 7 (5%) were experiencing homelessness. The mean (SD) distance traveled for care was 207.1 (277.9) km; travel and lodging assistance were accessed by 50 (34%) and 33 (22%) veterans, respectively. Seventy-one patients (48%) had HCC exceeding T2 stage at diagnosis. Curative treatment was offered to 78 (52%) patients, with 127 (85%) receiving any HCC-specific care. Median survival from diagnosis was 727 days (95% CI, 488-966).

CONCLUSIONS

Psychosocial barriers were common in our veteran cohort. Individualizing care, and coordination of travel and lodging, assisted in enabling high rates of receipt of HCC-specific therapy and improving patient survival.

Comprehensive and Equitable Care for Vulnerable Veterans With Integrated Palliative, Psychology, and Oncology Care

Objective

Veterans who live with cancer need comprehensive care. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer guidelines recommend evaluating distress and providing appropriate follow-up to all patients with cancer.

Methods

We created patient-centered, collaborative clinics to screen for and address cancer-related distress. Medical oncologists received education about available supportive services and instructions on how to make referrals. Participants completed the Coleman Supportive Oncology Collaborative screening questions.

Results

Patients in this outpatient US Department of Veterans Affairs medical oncology clinic were primarily older, African American men. Most veterans screened positive for ≥ 1 type of cancer-related distress. Patients screened for high levels of distress received in-person clinical follow-up for further evaluation and to make immediate referrals to supportive care services.

Conclusions

We evaluated patients' needs, made referrals as needed, and helped bring care directly into the oncology clinic. Using a screening tool for cancer-related distress and managing distress with integrated psychosocial providers could improve care coordination and enhance patient-centered supportive oncology care, especially for high-risk patients. A full-time social worker was integrated into the medical oncology clinics based on our program's success.