Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions
End-of-Life Services Among Patients with Cancer
J Oncol Pract; ePub 2017 Jul 19; McDermott, et al
There is a need for policies that encourage use of appropriate imaging, opioids, and hospice use, and that promote supportive care at the end of life, according to a study involving nearly 6,600 commercially insured patients.
Participants were from the western Washington SEER database, had been diagnosed with an invasive solid tumor between 2007 and 2015, and subsequently died. Among the results:
- In the last month of life, 56% were hospitalized and 48% had at least 1 imaging scan.
- 3 in every 10 patients younger than 65 years of age were enrolled in hospice.
- 41% of the younger group who were not in hospice received an opioid prescription.
- Opioid use in the last 30 days of life among younger patients not enrolled in hospice dropped from 45% in 2007 to 2009 to 38% in 2013 to 2015.
The authors noted that improved policies could improve end-of-life care and life quality.
McDermott C, Fedorenko C, Kreizenbeck K, et al. End-of-life services among patients with cancer: Evidence from cancer registry records linked with commercial health insurance claims. [Published online ahead of print July 19, 2017]. J Oncol Pract. doi:10.1200/JOP.2017.021683.