Frequency, Timing, and Predictors of Palliative Care Consultation in Patients with Advanced Cancer at a Tertiary Cancer Center: Secondary Analysis of Routinely Collected Health Data

Emergency department early mortality model for patients admitted after presenting to a tertiary medical center emergency department

OBJECTIVES

Identifying patients in the emergency department (ED) at higher risk for in-hospital mortality can inform shared decision making and goals-of-care discussions. Electronic health record systems allow for integrated multivariable logistic regression (LR) modeling, which can provide early predictions of mortality risk in time for crucial decision making during a patient's initial care. Many commonly used LR models require blood gas analysis values, which are not frequently obtained in the ED. The goal of this study was to develop an all-cause mortality prediction model, derived from commonly collected ED data, which can assess mortality risk early in ED care.

METHODS

Data were obtained for all patients, age 18 and older, admitted from the ED to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist from April 1, 2016, through March 31, 2020. Initial vital signs including heart rate, respiratory rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, pulse oximetry, weight, body mass index, comprehensive metabolic panel, and a complete blood count were electronically retrieved for all patients. The prediction model was developed using LR. The ED early mortality (EDEM) model was compared with the rapid Emergency Medicine Score (REMS) for performance analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 45,004 patients met inclusion criteria, comprising a total of 77,117 admissions. In this cohort, 52.8% of patients were male and 47.2% were female. The model used 35 variables and yielded an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.889 (95% CI 0.874-0.905) with a sensitivity of 0.828 (95% CI 0.791-0.860), a specificity of 0.788 (95% CI 0.783-0.794), a negative predictive value of 0.995 (95% CI 0.994-0.996), and a positive predictive value of 0.084 (95% CI 0.076-0.092). This outperformed REMS in this data set, which yielded an AUC of 0.500 (95% CI 0.455-0.545).

CONCLUSIONS

The EDEM model was predictive of in-hospital mortality and was superior to REMS.

Palliative care outcome measures used in head and neck cancer: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

The palliative care (PC) needs of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) are complex, due to high and unique symptom burdens. Uniform outcome measures are critical to assessing the impact of PC interventions in HNC.

METHODS

A scoping review of outcome measures used in patients with HNC receiving PC was performed using PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from 1980 to 2022.

RESULTS

Of 20 eligible studies, 19 unique instruments were identified which assessed 22 physical, 5 mental, 4 social, 7 related quality of life, and 9 advanced care planning outcomes. Instruments were underutilized, with a larger number of outcomes measurable for instruments used than were reported. The average instrument assessed three domains whereas the average study only reported outcomes from two domains.

CONCLUSIONS

Comparison across studies is limited due to heterogeneity in outcome measures. Future work is needed to develop core PC outcome measures for use in HNC care.

Palliative care consultation in the last week of life and associated factors: a cross-sectional general population study

Background

Knowledge of access to palliative care services, such as palliative care consultation teams, is crucial to identify areas of improvement for policy and practice. Research on general populations spanning all disease groups and multiple healthcare contexts is needed.

Objective

The objective was to investigate the sociodemographic, disease- and care-related, and care structure-related factors associated with palliative care consultations for adult patients in the last week of life.

Design

Cross-sectional, general population-level study based on linked Swedish national public authority registers and a national palliative care quality register.

Methods

The study population included all adult patients deceased in Sweden between 2013 and 2019 and registered in the Swedish Register of Palliative Care, with an anticipated death, and not enrolled in specialised palliative care. Multivariable logistic regression analyses to investigate association with palliative care consultations.

Results

In total, 8.2% of the 265,129 participants had received a palliative care consultation in the last week of life. The main multivariable analysis (Model 1) showed that those dying from neoplasms were more likely to receive a palliative care consultation (odds ratio (OR) 8.55, 95% CI 8.15-8.98) than those dying from circulatory diseases. Palliative care consultation was more likely with an increasing number of symptoms (OR 1.35, CI 1.32-1.37). Patients of old age and patients deceased in hospitals were less likely to receive a palliative care consultation. Moreover, factors such as educational attainment, healthcare region, living in a single-person household, and year of death were also associated with a palliative care consultation in the last week of life.

Conclusion

Our findings show inequities in access to palliative care consultations in the last week of life. Considering changes to policy and clinical practice is motivated.

Intensity of Symptoms and Perception of Quality of Life on Admission to Palliative Care: Reality of a Portuguese Team

BACKGROUND

Palliative care (PC) corresponds to an approach that enhances the quality of life for patients facing life-threatening diseases, such as cancer, as well as for their families. There are various models for providing palliative care. Early referral to PC of patients with advanced cancer has a significant positive impact on their quality of life. However, the criteria for early referral still remain controversial.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate patients' symptomatic intensity and perception of quality of life on admission to a PC unit and to analyze these two variables according to different models of approach (outpatient and inpatient care).

METHODS

A cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study was conducted with a sample of 60 patients sequentially admitted to a PC unit from palliative outpatient consultations or other inpatient services in a tertiary hospital dedicated to oncology care. The evaluation protocol included a sociodemographic and medical questionnaire, the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS), and the Palliative Care Outcome Scale (POS) completed by patients within the first 24 h after admission.

RESULTS

The participants were mostly male (61.7%), with a median age of 72 years. The majority of patients (n = 32; 53.3%) were undergoing outpatient treatment, while the remaining individuals (n = 28; 46.7%) were transferred from other hospital services (inpatient care). In the outpatient care group, higher scores for fatigue and dyspnea were observed. Conversely, in the inpatient care group, higher scores were observed for pain, depression, and anxiety. There were significant differences between the two groups regarding the POS dimensions of meaning of life, self-feelings, and lost time. In the inpatient group, there was a longer time between diagnosis and referral to PC; however, it was also in the inpatient group that there was less time between PC referral and first PC evaluation, between PC referral and PC unit admission, and between PC referral and death. There were no significant correlations between referral times and ESAS/POS scores in the inpatient and outpatient groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The patients admitted to the Palliative Care Unit presented a high symptom burden and changes in the perception of quality of life. However, there are no statistically significant differences between one model of approach in relation to the other. It was found that poorer symptom control and quality of life were associated with a shorter referral time for PC, because this was only initiated after curative care was suspended, particularly in our institutional context. Early referrals to the PC team are essential not only to relieve symptom-related distress but also to improve treatment outcomes and quality of life for people with cancer.

Association between Consultation by a Comprehensive Integrated Palliative Care Program and Quality of End-of-Life Care in Patients with Advanced Cancer in Edmonton, Canada

Literature assessing the impact of palliative care (PC) consultation on aggressive care at the end of life (EOL) within a comprehensive integrated PC program is limited. We retrospectively reviewed patients with advanced cancer who received oncological care at a Canadian tertiary center, died between April 2013 and March 2014, and had access to PC consultation in all healthcare settings. Administrative databases were linked, and medical records reviewed. Composite score for aggressive EOL care was calculated, assigning a point for each of the following: ≥2 emergency room visits, ≥2 hospitalizations, hospitalization >14 days, ICU admission, and chemotherapy administration in the last 30 days of life, and hospital death. Multivariable logistic regression was adjusted for age, sex, income, cancer type and PC consultation for ≥1 aggressive EOL care indicator. Of 1414 eligible patients, 1111 (78.6%) received PC consultation. In multivariable analysis, PC consultation was independently associated with lower odds of ≥1 aggressive EOL care indicator (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.38−0.65, p < 0.001). PC consultation >3 versus ≤3 months before death had a greater effect on lower aggressive EOL care (mean composite score 0.59 versus 0.88, p < 0.001). We add evidence that PC consultation is associated with less aggressive care at the EOL for patients with advanced cancer.

Palliative radiotherapy delivery by a dedicated multidisciplinary team facilitates early integration of palliative care: A secondary analysis of routinely collected health data

BACKGROUND

Early integration of Specialist Palliative Care (SPC) with oncological care improves quality of life (QOL) of patients with advanced cancer; however, patients tend to access SPC late in their disease trajectory, if at all. Routine referral of all patients to SPC would quickly overwhelm available resources, suggesting a need for widespread accessibility of generalist PC competencies. This has been increasingly facilitated by dedicated palliative radiotherapy (PRT) clinics, such as the multidisciplinary Palliative Radiation Oncology (PRO) program at the Cross Cancer Institute (CCI). Our objectives were to estimate the proportion of patients dying with breast cancer seen in consultation for PRT, and the interaction between PRT delivery and SPC referral.

METHODS

This secondary analysis of routinely collected health data examined female adults with breast cancer who died between 04/01/2013 and 03/31/2014, and had advanced disease while under the care of a CCI oncologist. Alberta Cancer Registry, electronic medical records, and Edmonton Zone Palliative Care Program data were linked. During the study period, referrals for SPC, and setting of assessment for PRT, were at the attending physicians' discretion. Clinical data were abstracted including summaries of intervals between PRT and SPC consultations, as well as from consults to death. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates, independent samples median tests, t tests of proportions, independent t tests and Chi-square tests compared groups.

RESULTS

Of 194 patients, median age at cancer diagnosis was 59 years (range 24-95yrs), median one-way distance from the CCI was 18.8km, and overall median survival (MS) was 4.4 years. 130/194 (67.0%) and 110/194 (56.7%) were assessed for PRT and by SPC respectively; 22/194 (11.3%) saw neither prior to death. Median time between first PRT consultation and death was 11.7 months (interquartile range 3.7-22.2 mos). Median time between first SPC consult and death was 2.9 mos (IQR 1-6.2 mos). 65.6% of those who never had PRT ultimately required SPC involvement, versus 52.3% of those receiving PRT. Of the 68/130 who had both, 91.2% were seen for PRT first, a median of 7.9 mos prior to seeing SPC. Patients who had SPC consultation without previous PRT were seen by PC a median 1.5 mos prior to death (IQR 0.6-4.9 mos). Patients seen for PRT outside of the PRO clinic had SPC consultation a median of 3.3 mos before death (IQR 1.2-6.2 mos), versus those seen by the PRO clinic team, who were referred a median of 6.2 mos prior (IQR 2.4-8.1 mos).

CONCLUSIONS

Fewer advanced breast cancer patients who received PRT ultimately required SPC consultation, but those who did were referred earlier in their disease course, especially if PRT assessment and delivery had taken place in the setting of a dedicated multidisciplinary team.

Appropriate referral timing to specialized palliative care service: survey of bereaved families of cancer patients who died in palliative care units

Few studies have investigated appropriate referral timing of specialized palliative care (SPC) from the perspective of cancer patients' and families' experiences. We aimed to clarify appropriate SPC referral timing for patients with advanced cancer and their families. We used data from a nationwide bereaved family survey in Japan. We sent a questionnaire to 999 bereaved families of cancer patients who died in 164 palliative care units (PCUs) and analyzed the first SPC referral timing and how patients evaluated it. We defined SPC as outpatient or inpatient palliative care service comprising certified palliative care physicians, advanced-practice nurses, and multidisciplinary practitioners. Finally, 51.6% (n = 515) of all responses were analyzed. The SPC referral timing was evaluated as appropriate (26.1%), late or too late (20.2%), early or too early (1.2%), or none of these (52.5%). Of these, 32.3% reported that they were referred to an SPC when diagnosed with advanced or incurable cancer or during anti-cancer treatment, and 62.6% reported they were referred after anti-cancer treatment. Patient-perceived appropriateness of SPC referral timing was associated with their good death process. After excluding "none of these" responses, a significantly higher proportion of respondents who reported being referred to SPC at diagnosis and during anti-cancer treatment evaluated the response timing as appropriate, compared to those who reported being referred after anti-cancer treatment. Appropriate timing for SPC referrals relates to quality of death; findings suggest that appropriate timing is at the time of diagnosis or during anti-cancer treatment.

Access to inpatient palliative care among cancer patients in France: an analysis based on the national cancer cohort

Background

Closely linked to the concept of supportive care, the integrated model of palliative care (PC) implies identifying, assessing and treating physical and psychological suffering as early as needed, irrespective of patient characteristics. In France, as in the most southern European countries, little is known about the proportion of cancer patients who have access to PC. Accordingly, we aimed in this study to estimate the proportion of cancer patients in France who have access to inpatient PC, and to explore associated factors. We carried out a nationwide retrospective cohort study using data from the French national health system database (SNDS) for all individuals diagnosed with cancer in 2013 and followed between 2013 and 2016. We compared patients who had inpatient PC with those who did not.

Results

Of the 313,059 cancer patients included in the national French cancer cohort in 2013, 53,437 (17%) accessed inpatient PC at least once between 2013 and 2016, ranging from 2% in survivors to 56% in the deceased population. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that women and younger patients (18–49 years old) were less likely to access inpatient PC while patients with a greater number of comorbidities, metastatic cancer, or cancer of the nervous system, were more likely to have done so.

Conclusions

A negligible proportion of cancer survivors accessed inpatient PC. More research and training are needed to convince healthcare providers, patients, and families about the substantial benefits of PC, and to promote better integration of PC and oncology.