Aggressive End-of-Life Care for Metastatic Cancer Patients Younger Than Age 65 Years.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Aggressive medical care at the end of life can be harmful to patients and families, but its prevalence in use among younger cancer patients is unknown. The goal of the study was to report on the use of aggressive care and hospice services for patients younger than age 65 years.

Methods

Using the HealthCore Integrated Research Database, we analyzed patients who died between 2007 and 2014 with metastatic lung (n = 12 764), colorectal (n = 5207), breast (n = 5855), pancreatic (n = 3397), or prostate (n = 1508) cancer. Based on published quality measures, we assessed uses of chemotherapy, intensive care, emergency room visits, and hospice care at the end of life. We examined additional items including radiotherapy, invasive procedures, hospitalization, and in-hospital

SUBMITTER: Falchook AD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6440271 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature