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01-03-2014 | Original Article

Reasons for hospitalisation at the end of life: differences between cancer and non-cancer patients

Authors: Maria C. De Korte-Verhoef, H. Roeline W. Pasman, Bart P. M. Schweitzer, Anneke L. Francke, Bregje D. Onwuteaka-Philipsen, Luc Deliens

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 3/2014

Abstract

Purpose

Many patients are hospitalised during the final phase of life, even though most prefer to receive care at home until the end. This study aimed to explore the reasons and characteristics of hospitalisation in the final 3 months of life for patients who died non-suddenly, with a comparison between cancer patients and non-cancer patients.

Methods

This study used a nationwide retrospective cross-sectional survey among Dutch general practitioners.

Results

Of the 317 hospitalised patients, 65 % had cancer. Most common reasons for hospitalisation in the final 3 months of life were respiratory symptoms (31 %), digestive symptoms (17 %), and cardiovascular symptoms (17 %). Seventy-three percent of patients experienced an acute episode before hospitalisation, and for 46 % of patients, their own GP initiated the hospitalisation. Compared to non-cancer patients, cancer patients were significantly more likely to be aged less than 80 (81 versus 46 %), were more likely to be hospitalised because of digestive symptoms (22 versus 7 %), were less likely to have a curative treatment goal before the last hospitalisation (6 versus 22 %) and were less likely to die in hospital (22 versus 49 %).

Conclusions

Respiratory problems were the most common reasons for hospitalisation in the group of patients as a whole. Digestive problems were a frequent reason for hospitalisation in cancer patients and cardiovascular symptoms in non-cancer patients. Hospitalisation can therefore be anticipated by monitoring these relatively common symptoms. Also, timely communication with the patient is recommended about their preferences for hospital or home treatment in the case of an acute episode.

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Title: Reasons for hospitalisation at the end of life: differences between cancer and non-cancer patients
Authors: Maria C. De Korte-Verhoef
H. Roeline W. Pasman
Bart P. M. Schweitzer
Anneke L. Francke
Bregje D. Onwuteaka-Philipsen
Luc Deliens
Publication date: 01-03-2014
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 3/2014
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-013-2019-9

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Abstract

Purpose

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Conclusions

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