1596P - Exploring the economic impact of palliative care in oncology at the end of life

Background

Palliative care has shown a positive economic impact in oncology. However, research on its financial viability in oncology, especially in developing countries, is lacking. This study estimates hospitalization costs for cancer patients in the southeast region of Brazil.

Methods

We used a retrospective analysis of electronic medical records for cancer patients treated at a Cancer Center in the southeast region of Brazil. Inclusion criteria were adult patients with any type of cancer who had died at a hospital setting between January 2022 and March 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: those who received outpatient palliative care (OPCT) and those who did not receive any OPCT. Based on the available clinical outcomes of the sample, data was collected on the hospital admission date, length of stay until death, and the type of accommodation until death [admission at intensive care unit (ICU) versus general ward]. To estimate the costs, we used real-world data from private hospitals in the southeast region, measuring the general amounts spent on daily hospitalization and ICU stays, and their respective lengths of stay, without reference to any specific patient or procedures. We performed univariate comparisons using Linear Regression.

Results

Out of the 72 patients with cancer, 29 were followed by the OPCT team, while 43 were not. The average cost of hospitalization for patients who did not receive the OPCT was found to be R$ 20,000.00 (€ 3,651.00; SD = 9.19) higher than those who received OPCT (p = 0.03). We observed that patients who were admitted to the ICU had hospitalization cost, on average, R$ 17,800.00 (€ 3,249.00; SD = 9.61) more than those who stayed in general ward (p = 0.06).

Conclusions

Our study highlights the economic benefits of providing OPCT in a developing country. Based on this analysis, OPCT can reduce healthcare costs by decreasing the length of hospital stay and preventing unnecessary ICU admissions. Our study suggest that policymakers and healthcare providers should prioritize the provision of OPCT in Brazil, and this type of support should be considered as an essential component of end-of-life care.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

Oncoclinicas.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.