Which cancer patients die in nursing homes? Quality of life, medical and sociodemographic characteristics.
In this study, cancer patients' characteristics associated with death in nursing homes were explored. The study sample included 395 cancer patients who had participated in a trial of palliative care, 260 (66%) patients died in hospital, 80 (20%) at home and 55 (14%) in nursing homes. Health-related quality of life was prospectively recorded using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Death in nursing home was associated with greater age, not living with spouse and poor performance status. Patients dying in nursing homes reported severe functioning impairments and more fatigue and appetite loss compared with those dying elsewhere. The association between death in nursing homes and poor physical, role, cognitive and social functioning remained significant when sociodemographic and medical differences were taken into account. Further research on frail elderly cancer patients is warranted to improve their care, to evaluate the appropriateness of nursing home placement and for future planning of palliative care services.
Jordhøy
Marit S
MS
Unit of Applied Clinical Research, NTNU, Trondheim and Unit of Oncology and Palliative Care, Department of Internal Medicine, Nordland Hospital, Bodø, Norway. marit.jordhoy@nordlandssykehuset.no
Saltvedt
Ingvild
I
Fayers
Peter
P
Loge
Jon Håvard
JH
Ahlner-Elmqvist
Marianne
M
Kaasa
Stein
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003643:Death; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010166:Palliative Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*