Quality of death in patients in advanced chronic liver disease and cancer patients managed by gastroenterologists in Portugal: are we doing it right?

Abstract

The incidence of chronic progressive diseases is rising and investment on quality of death and dying is of utmost importance to minimize physical and emotional suffering. There is still a gap in palliative care (PC) between patients with cancer and those with advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD). Our objectives were to characterize clinical attitudes and therapeutic interventions and to evaluate the differences in end-of-life care between inpatients with cancer and ACLD under gastroenterology care. Retrospective cohort study, including patients with cancer or ACLD who died in a Gastroenterology department between 2012 and 2021. Demographic characteristics, clinical and endoscopic procedures and symptom control were compared between the groups. From 150 patients, 118 (78.7%) died with cancer and 32 (21.3%) died from ACLD without concomitant hepatocellular carcinoma. ACLD patients were more frequently male ( P = 0.001) and younger ( P = 0.001) than patients with cancer. Median time of hospitalization in the last month of life was 16 days for both groups. Discussion of prognosis with the patient was more frequent for cancer patients (35.6% versus 3.2%, P < 0.001). Referral to PC occurred in 18.8% and 61% of the patients with ACLD and cancer respectively ( P < 0.001). Endoscopic procedures were performed in half of the patients and were more likely to be unsuccessful in those with cancer. Clinical decisions were different between groups in terms of PC access and discussion of prognostic with the patient. It is urgent to define and implement metrics of quality of death and dying to prevent potentially inappropriate treatment.