Utilization of palliative care in intubated patients with metastatic cancer: A 10-year nationwide analysis.

Abstract

69 Background: Due to improved survival, an increasing number of patients with advanced cancer are eligible for aggressive ICU care, including intubation. The American Society of Clinical Oncology recommends early integration of palliative care in patients with advanced cancer. We analyzed 10-year trends in the utilization of palliative care, and predictors of palliative care use in patients with metastatic cancer undergoing intubation using the National Hospital Discharge Survey database from 2001-2010. Methods: Diagnosis and procedure codes were utilized to identify adult patients with metastatic cancer who underwent intubation, and received palliative care. Demographics, diagnoses, length of stay (LOS), and discharge information were extracted. T-tests and χ^2 tests were used to compare medians and proportions respectively in patients that did or did not receive palliative care. Multivariate regression models with weighted analysis were conducted to study predictors of palliative care use. Results: Over the 10-year study period, 200,350 patients with metastatic cancer and intubation were identified, mean age 65.3 years, 46.2% male. Of these, 6690 (3.3%) received palliative care. There was a significant increase in the use of palliative care from 2001 (0%) to 2010 (17.4%), p for trend < 0.001. In multivariate analysis, patients who received palliative care were more likely to have age > 65 years, be white vs non-white, be hospitalized in 2009-2010 vs 2000-2001, and be admitted to hospitals in the Western part of the US. The overall inpatient mortality rate was 57.3%, discharge to a care facility (DTCF) rate was 15.2%, and mean LOS was 11.1 days. The LOS and DTCF rates were similar in patients with and without palliative care. Patients with palliative care had higher rates of inpatient mortality (adjusted OR 9.6, 95% CI 2.2- 42.0). Conclusions: There was a dramatic increase in the use of palliative care in intubated patients with metastatic cancer. Studies to address the racial and geographic discrepancies in palliative care use are warranted. The higher mortality in palliative care group suggests it is being used for the sickest patients. Early (vs end of life) palliative care may be more beneficial.