Patterns of Medication Use at End of Life by Pediatric Inpatients with Cancer

Title

Patterns of Medication Use at End of Life by Pediatric Inpatients with Cancer

Creator

Prozora S; Shabanova V; Ananth P; Pashankar F; Kupfer GM; Massaro SA; Davidoff AJ

Identifier

Publisher

Pediatric Blood and Cancer

Date

2020

Subject

end of life; medication use; pediatric cancer care

Description

OBJECTIVE: To describe medication utilization patterns by pediatric inpatients with cancer during their last week of life. METHODS: This retrospective study used data from the Vizient Clinical Database/Resource Manager, a national compilation of clinical and resource use data from over 100 academic medical centers and affiliates. Patients (0-21 years) with malignancy who died during hospitalization (2010-2017) were included (N = 1659). Medications were categorized as opioid, benzodiazepine, gastrointestinal related, chemotherapy, anti-infectives, or vasopressors. Exposure to each group was ascertained for all patients at 1 week and 1 day prior to death. Factors associated with exposure were examined using generalized estimating equations, and summarized using adjusted odds ratios (aORs). RESULTS: Over the last week of life, there was increased use of opioids (76% to 82%, aOR = 1.55, P < .001) and benzodiazepines (53% to 66%, aOR = 1.36, P = .02), while gastrointestinal-related medication use decreased (92% to 89%, aOR = 0.69, P = .001). Patients had decreased exposure to chemotherapy (10% to 5%, aOR = 0.46, P < .001) and anti-infectives (82% to 73%, aOR = 0.41, P = .002). Vasopressor use increased as death approached (15% to 28%, aOR = 1.67, P = .04). Factors significantly associated with exposure varied with medication category, and included age, race, length of stay, malignancy type, death in the intensive care unit, history of hematopoietic stem cell transplant, and do-not-resuscitate status. CONCLUSION: During the week preceding death, administration of symptom management medications increased for children with cancer, but use was not universal. Potentially life-sustaining medications were often continued. Variability in utilization suggests differences in provider/family decision making that warrant further study to develop an evidence-based approach to end-of-life care.

Rights

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Citation List Month

2021 Special Edition - Oncology

Citation

Prozora S; Shabanova V; Ananth P; Pashankar F; Kupfer GM; Massaro SA; Davidoff AJ, “Patterns of Medication Use at End of Life by Pediatric Inpatients with Cancer,” Pediatric Palliative Care Library, accessed March 29, 2024, https://pedpalascnetlibrary.omeka.net/items/show/18990.