Symptom Management and Support in Dying Patients with Cancer and Coronavirus Disease-19—A Register-Based Study

Christel Hedman, Peter Strang, Staffan Lundström, Lisa Martinsson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: Little is known to what extent access to specialist palliative care (SPC) for cancer patients dying with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) affects the occurrence of breakthrough symptoms, symptom relief, and overall care, compared to hospital deaths. Our aim was to include patients with both COVID-19 and cancer and compare those dying in hospitals with those dying in SPC with reference to the quality of end-of-life care. Methods: Patients with both cancer and COVID-19 who died in hospitals (n = 430) and within SPC (n = 384) were identified from the Swedish Register of Palliative Care. The hospital and SPC groups were compared regarding the quality of end-of-life care, including the occurrence of 6 breakthrough symptoms during the last week in life, symptom relief, end-of-life care decisions, information, support, and human presence at death. Results: Breakthrough of breathlessness was more common in the hospital patients compared to the SPC patients (61% and 39%, respectively; p <.001), while pain was less common (65% and 78%, respectively; p <.001). Breakthrough of nausea, anxiety, respiratory secretions, or confusion did not differ. All 6 symptoms, except for confusion, were more often completely relieved in SPC (p =.014 to p <.001 in different comparisons). In SPC, a documented decision about the goal being end-of-life care and information about this were more common than in hospitals (p <.001). Also, to have family members present at the time of death and for family members to be offered a follow-up talk afterward was more common in SPC (p <.001). Conclusion: More systematic palliative care routines may be an important factor for better symptom control and higher quality of end-of-life care in hospitals.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)261-267
JournalJournal of Palliative Care
Volume38
Issue number3
Early online date2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Nursing

Free keywords

  • cancer
  • COVID-19
  • end-of-life care
  • hospital care
  • palliative care
  • symptoms

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