Timing of Palliative Care in Colorectal Cancer Patients: Does It Matter?
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Canada
/ epidemiology
Colorectal Neoplasms
/ economics
Cost-Benefit Analysis
/ statistics & numerical data
Delivery of Health Care, Integrated
/ economics
Evidence-Based Medicine
/ economics
Female
Health Expenditures
/ statistics & numerical data
Hospital Mortality
Humans
Male
Medical Oncology
/ economics
Middle Aged
Palliative Care
/ economics
Patient Acceptance of Health Care
/ statistics & numerical data
Registries
/ statistics & numerical data
Retrospective Studies
Terminal Care
/ economics
Time Factors
Colorectal cancer
End-of-life care
Health care costs
Palliative care
Journal
The Journal of surgical research
ISSN: 1095-8673
Titre abrégé: J Surg Res
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 0376340
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
09 2019
09 2019
Historique:
received:
07
12
2018
revised:
01
03
2019
accepted:
03
04
2019
pubmed:
3
5
2019
medline:
15
2
2020
entrez:
4
5
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Palliative care can improve end-of-life care and reduce health care expenditures, but the optimal timing for initiation remains unclear. We sought to characterize the association between timing of palliative care, in-hospital deaths, and health care costs. This is a retrospective cohort study including all patients who were diagnosed and died of colorectal cancer between 2004 and 2012 in Manitoba, Canada. The primary exposure was timing of palliative care, defined as no involvement, late involvement (less than 14 d before death), early involvement (14 to 60 d before death), and very early involvement (>60 d before death). The primary outcome was in-hospital deaths and end-of-life health care costs. A total of 1607 patients were included; 315 (20%) received palliative care and 162 (10%) died in hospital. Compared to those who did not receive palliative care, patients with early and very early involvement experienced significantly decreased odds of dying in hospital (OR 0.21 95% CI 0.06-0.69 P = 0.01 and OR 0.11 95% CI 0.01-0.78 P = 0.03, respectively) and significantly lower health care costs. There were no significant differences in in-hospital deaths and health care costs between patients without palliative care and those who received late palliative care. Early palliative care involvement is associated with decreased odds of dying in hospital and lower health care utilization and costs in patients with colorectal cancer. These findings provide real-world evidence supporting early integration of palliative care, although the optimal timing (early versus very early) remains a matter of debate.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Palliative care can improve end-of-life care and reduce health care expenditures, but the optimal timing for initiation remains unclear. We sought to characterize the association between timing of palliative care, in-hospital deaths, and health care costs.
METHODS
This is a retrospective cohort study including all patients who were diagnosed and died of colorectal cancer between 2004 and 2012 in Manitoba, Canada. The primary exposure was timing of palliative care, defined as no involvement, late involvement (less than 14 d before death), early involvement (14 to 60 d before death), and very early involvement (>60 d before death). The primary outcome was in-hospital deaths and end-of-life health care costs.
RESULTS
A total of 1607 patients were included; 315 (20%) received palliative care and 162 (10%) died in hospital. Compared to those who did not receive palliative care, patients with early and very early involvement experienced significantly decreased odds of dying in hospital (OR 0.21 95% CI 0.06-0.69 P = 0.01 and OR 0.11 95% CI 0.01-0.78 P = 0.03, respectively) and significantly lower health care costs. There were no significant differences in in-hospital deaths and health care costs between patients without palliative care and those who received late palliative care.
CONCLUSIONS
Early palliative care involvement is associated with decreased odds of dying in hospital and lower health care utilization and costs in patients with colorectal cancer. These findings provide real-world evidence supporting early integration of palliative care, although the optimal timing (early versus very early) remains a matter of debate.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31048219
pii: S0022-4804(19)30196-9
doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2019.04.009
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
285-293Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.