Fluid therapy is associated with lower care quality and higher symptom burden during last days of life of patients with cancer - a population-based register study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Parenteral fluid (PF) therapy of patients in end-of-life (EOL) is controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess associations between PF, quality of the EOL care process and symptom burden in dying cancer patients, using a population-based approach.

Methods

This was a nationwide retrospective register study of all adult cancer deaths with documented information on PF in the last 24 h of life as reported to the Swedish Register of Palliative Care during a three-year period (n = 41,709). Prevalence and relief of symptoms during the last week of life as well as EOL care process quality indicators were assessed in relation to PF in those patients who had a documented decision to focus on EOL care (immediately dying, n = 23,112). Odds ratios were calculated, ad

SUBMITTER: Lindskog M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11256446 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature