The Association between Chronic Conditions,End-of-Life Health Care Use,and Documentation of Advance Care Planning among Patients with Cancer

Abstract

Background:

Multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) are associated with increased intensity of end-of-life (EOL) care, but their effect is not well explored in patients with cancer.

Objective:

We examined EOL health care intensity and advance care planning (ACP) documentation to better understand the association between MCCs and these outcomes.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting/Subjects:

Patients aged 18+ years at UW Medicine who died during 2010–2017 with poor prognosis cancer, with or without chronic liver disease, chronic pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease, dementia, diabetes with end-stage organ damage, end-stage renal disease, heart failure, or peripheral vascular disease.

Measurements:

ACP documentation 30+ days before death, in-hospital death, and inpatient or intensive care unit (ICU) admission in the last 30 days. We performed logistic regression for outcomes.

Results:

Of 15,092 patients with cancer, 10,596 (70%) had 1+ MCCs (range 1–8). Patients with cancer and heart failure had highest odds of hospitalization (odds ratio [OR] 1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.46–1.91), ICU admission (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.76–2.41), or in-hospital death (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.43–1.84) versus patients with cancer and other conditions. Patients with ACP 30+ days before death had lower odds of in-hospital death (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.60–0.71), hospitalization (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.61–0.74), or ICU admission (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.64–0.80).

Conclusions:

Patients with ACP 30+ days before death had lower odds of high-intensity EOL care. Further research needs to explore how to best use ACP to ensure patients receive care aligned with patient and family goals for care.