End-of-Life Experience of Older Adults Dying of End-Stage Renal Disease: A Comparison With Cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Older adults with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are a rapidly growing group of seriously ill patients. Yet, despite a mortality rate almost twice that of cancer, less is known about the impact of ESRD on patients' end-of-life experience.

Objective

To compare the end-of-life experience of older adults who died of ESRD vs. cancer.

Methods

We used data from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative survey of older adults. Our sample included 1883 Health and Retirement Study participants who died of cancer or ESRD between 2000 and 2010 and their family respondents. We compared advance care planning, treatment intensity, and symptoms between the two groups and used propensity score weighting to adjust for differences by diagnosis.

Results

SUBMITTER: Wachterman MW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5786651 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature