Team-Based Hospice Referrals: A Potential Quality Metric for Lung Cancer in the Immunotherapy Era.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can lead to durable responses in patients with lung cancer but may delay transitions to hospice at the end of life (EOL). We aimed to test the association of continuity of care with EOL outcomes in the ICI era.

Methods

We collected retrospective data on all patients with lung cancer who started ICI treatment at a single comprehensive cancer center in the United States (1/1/14-5/1/18) and subsequently died. We defined a hospice referral as having continuity of care if placed by a provider from the patient's multidisciplinary cancer team (e.g., a medical oncologist, palliative care specialist, intensivist, and hospitalist).

Results

In this cohort of 143 patients, 58% had a team-based hospice referral which was associated wi

SUBMITTER: Lycan TW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9815203 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature