2453 - Factors related to hospital length of stay, re-admissions and unplanned care for patients with cancer, an on-going study

Background

Recent development in cancer care challenges the earlier and more linear care trajectory. This implies an increased need for symptom management and support. In research on intensity of care at end-of-life (EOL), there is a trend to increased utilization of health, such as re-admissions, emergency admissions and to intensive care (ICU). Previous research has investigated factors such as gender, socio-economic status, comorbidities and type of disease. Research on symptoms leading to hospitalizations reveal that more than half of symptoms were related to disease and 30% to side-effects from treatment. Some research reveals that symptom burden in hospitalized patients may be associated with hospital length of stay (LOS) and re-admissions. This study aims to analyze the relationship between Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and different aspects of health care utilization, such as; LOS, re-admissions within 30 days and unplanned care.

Methods

Survey data using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC QLQ C30) tool on HRQoL were linked data from the Swedish Cancer Quality registries and the database for health care utilization. Patients with a complex care trajectory (in this study Gynecology, Head & Neck, Hematology and Upper GI cancer) were included. Functional scales and symptom scales from EORTC QLQ C30 were analyzed for correlations with LOS, re- admissions within 30 days and unplanned care. Independent variables are patient demographics and clinical variables such as; treatment and/or type of treatment, performance status, co-morbidities and referral to palliative care.

Results

In total, 1872 patients responded to the survey (response rate 64 %), 41 % men and 59 % women (mean age 67 years). The number of patients in each group are; Gynecological (n 598), Hematological (n 461), Head & Neck (n 395) and Upper GI cancers (n 418). Analysis are currently ongoing with multivariate regression models and will be presented in the poster/oral presentation.

Conclusions

On possible correlations between different factors related to aspects of care utilization will be presented.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

The author.

Funding

This investigation and study was supported by grants from the Cancer Research Foundation in Northern Sweden.

Disclosure

The author has declared no conflicts of interest.