09 Apr
09Apr

This study shows that agressive end of life treatments from cancer shortened lives, reduced quality of living, While Great Palliative Care provided a far better outcome.


Early Palliative Care for Patients with Metastatic Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

List of authors.

  • Jennifer S. Temel, M.D., 
  • Joseph A. Greer, Ph.D., 
  • Alona Muzikansky, M.A., 
  • Emily R. Gallagher, R.N., 
  • Sonal Admane, M.B., B.S., M.P.H., 
  • Vicki A. Jackson, M.D., M.P.H., 
  • Constance M. Dahlin, A.P.N., 
  • Craig D. Blinderman, M.D., 
  • Juliet Jacobsen, M.D., 
  • William F. Pirl, M.D., M.P.H., 
  • J. Andrew Billings, M.D., 
  • and Thomas J. Lynch, M.D.

BACKGROUND

Patients with metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer have a substantial symptom burden and may receive aggressive care at the end of life. We examined the effect of introducing palliative care early after diagnosis on patient-reported outcomes and end-of-life care among ambulatory patients with newly diagnosed disease.

METHODS

We randomly assigned patients with newly diagnosed metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer to receive either early palliative care integrated with standard oncologic care or standard oncologic care alone. Quality of life and mood were assessed at baseline and at 12 weeks with the use of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Lung (FACT-L) scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, respectively. The primary outcome was the change in the quality of life at 12 weeks. Data on end-of-life care were collected from electronic medical records.

RESULTS

Of the 151 patients who underwent randomization, 27 died by 12 weeks and 107 (86% of the remaining patients) completed assessments. Patients assigned to early palliative care had a better quality of life than did patients assigned to standard care (mean score on the FACT-L scale [in which scores range from 0 to 136, with higher scores indicating better quality of life], 98.0 vs. 91.5; P=0.03). In addition, fewer patients in the palliative care group than in the standard care group had depressive symptoms (16% vs. 38%, P=0.01). Despite the fact that fewer patients in the early palliative care group than in the standard care group received aggressive end-of-life care (33% vs. 54%, P=0.05), median survival was longer among patients receiving early palliative care (11.6 months vs. 8.9 months, P=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer, early palliative care led to significant improvements in both quality of life and mood. As compared with patients receiving standard care, patients receiving early palliative care had less aggressive care at the end of life but longer survival. 

Link to original New England Journal of Medicine Study

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