Abstract 1275P
Background
In advanced and incurable cancer disease, chemotherapy may be recommended if it improves the quality of life, even if it does not increase survival. However, in an end-of-life setting, the use of chemotherapy is controversial, with less clear indications and more individualized decisions. This study aimed to evaluate patients who received chemotherapy within the last three months of life, an indicator of the quality of care provided.
Methods
We analyzed data from patients receiving chemotherapy in the last three months of life and who died from January 2018 to December 2020, in our Oncology Department.
Results
From January 2018 to December 2020, 7425 new cases of solid neoplasms were registered, of which 9% (n=696) died in the same period, despite the treatments performed. It was found that 391 received chemotherapy treatments in the last 3 months of life. Of these, 65% (n=255) were male, with a mean age of 63 years and the majority (81%, n=317) had an ECOG performance status (PS) of 0-1. Regarding oncological disease, the most frequent diagnoses were lung cancer in 33% of cases (n=128), gastric cancer in 14% (n=53) and colorectal cancer in 12% of cases (n=47). As for staging, 71% (n=276) of patients had metastatic disease. Most patients (66%, n=258) underwent chemotherapy with doublets, in a first-line setting. A more detailed analysis revealed that 28% of patients (n=193) underwent treatment in the last month and 6% (n=42) in the last week of life.Of these 193 patients, 53% died from disease progression and 20% due to treatment-related complications such as febrile neutropenia. Most deaths occurred in the hospital (79%, n=153). In the last month of life, patients had an average of two episodes of admission to the emergency department and one episode of hospitalization. Best supportive care was decided for 21% of patients (n=40) and of these, only 13% (n=25) were referred to the palliative care unit.
Conclusions
This work puts into figures the reality of an Oncology Centre, revealing the investment made in fighting the disease and providing greater longevity to patients, with quality of life.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.