Age‐related differences in care receipt and symptom experience of elderly cancer patients dying at home: Lessons from the DEATH project

Abstract

Background: Data on the differences between older and younger elderly cancer patients dying at home is sparse. To clarify age‐related differences in symptom experience and care receipt of elderly cancer patients at end‐of‐life, we conducted a subanalysis study of the Dying Elderly at Home (DEATH) project, a multicenter study of 240 elderly aged 65 and older dying at home.Methods: We assessed the frequency of symptom experience and end‐of‐life care receipt in home elderly patients during the last 2 days of their lives and evaluated the differences between younger elderly (aged 65–74) and older elderly (aged 75+) cancer decedents. The general practitioners were asked to fill out a questionnaire immediately after the death of study patients. A total of 66 younger and 51 older elderly cancer decedents were included in the analysis.Results: Coma and dementia were common among younger and older elderly patients. Older decedents were less likely to experience anxiety, but, after adjustment for baseline characteristics, this age‐related difference did not clearly appear. Older decedents were also less likely to receive opioids than younger decedents. There were no significant differences in volume of i.v. hydration between the two groups.Conclusions: Our results suggested that there were no differences in symptom experience and care receipt among older and younger decedents, except in opioid use, at end‐of‐life. These findings imply a similar need of end‐of‐life care for younger and older elderly cancer patients who opt for home death.