Abstract
Context
Patients who died of cancers and those who died of noncancer diseases may receive
different end-of-life care.
Objectives
This study aimed to evaluate the trends of utilization of palliative care and aggressive
end-of-life care for patients who died of cancers and those who died of noncancer
diseases in hospitals.
Methods
The medical records of patients who died in a public hospital because of cancer or
other diseases were reviewed. The proportion of those who received palliative care,
admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) within 30 days of death, died in ICU, and received
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) within three days of death in 2013–2014, 2015–2016,
and 2017–2018, respectively, was investigated. Multivariate logistic regression was
applied to evaluate the independent effects of various factors on the risk of receiving
aggressive end-of-life care.
Results
Significant trends of increase in receiving palliative care were found. The proportion
of patients who died of noncancer diseases and received palliative care was lower
than that of those who died of cancers. Palliative care was associated with a reduced
risk of ICU admission within 30 days of death (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.361), death
in ICU (AOR 0.208), and receiving CPR within three days of death (AOR 0.057). Patients
who died of noncancer diseases had a higher risk of ICU admission within 30 days of
death (AOR 5.016), death in ICU (AOR 5.086), and receiving CPR within three days of
death (AOR 3.274).
Conclusion
Utilization of palliative care is increasing. Patients who died of noncancer diseases
received less palliative care but more aggressive end-of-life care than those who
died of cancers.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 30, 2020
Accepted:
June 23,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
