Retrospective evaluation of palliative care and hospice utilization in hospitalized patients with metastatic breast cancer.

BACKGROUND

Hospitalizations in patients with metastatic cancer occur commonly at the end of life but have not been well-described in individuals with metastatic breast cancer.

AIM

To describe the reasons for admission and frequency of palliative care and hospice utilization in hospitalized patients with metastatic breast cancer.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective chart review of patients who had their first hospitalization with a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2010. To standardize follow-up time, we collected data for 3 years post the index hospitalization.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: We identified 123 consecutive patients who were hospitalized for the first time with a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer at a single, tertiary care center.

RESULTS

Uncontrolled symptoms accounted for half (50%, 62/123) of index admissions. The majority of patients died during the follow-up period (76%, 94/123), and the median time from index admission to death was 6 months (range: 0-34 months). Approximately half (53%, 50/94) died in the hospital or within 14 days of last hospital discharge, and less than one-third (29%, 27/94) were referred to hospice after their last hospitalization. The inpatient palliative care team evaluated 57% (54/94) of those who died at least once during an admission, but only 17% (16/94) of patients attended an outpatient palliative care appointment.

CONCLUSIONS

Hospitalized patients with metastatic breast cancer are commonly admitted for uncontrolled symptoms and have a poor prognosis. However, only a minority receive outpatient palliative care or are referred to hospice during their last hospitalization prior to death.