Early Palliative Care Reduces End-of-Life Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Use but Not ICU Course in Patients with Advanced Cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Early palliative care for advanced cancer patients improves quality of life and survival, but less is known about its effect on intensive care unit (ICU) use at the end of life. This analysis assessed the effect of a comprehensive early palliative care program on ICU use and other outcomes among patients with advanced cancer.

Patients and methods

A retrospective cohort of patients with advanced cancer enrolled in an early palliative care program (n = 275) was compared with a concurrent control group of patients receiving standard care (n = 195) during the same time period by using multivariable logistic regression analysis. The multidisciplinary outpatient palliative care program used early end-of-life care planning, weekly interdisciplinary meetings

SUBMITTER: Romano AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5344633 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature