Impact of Race and Ethnicity on End-of-Life Experiences for Children With Cancer

Background:

Racial and ethnic disparities in the provision of end-of-life care are well described in the adult oncology literature. However, the impact of racial and ethnic disparities at end of life in the context of pediatric oncology remains poorly understood.

Objective:

To investigate associations between end-of-life experiences and race/ethnicity for pediatric patients with cancer.

Methods:

A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 321 children with cancer enrolled on a palliative care service at an urban pediatric cancer who died between 2011 and 2015.

Results:

Compared to white patients, black patients were more likely to receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR; odds ratio [OR]: 4.109, confidence interval [CI]: 1.432-11.790, P = .009) and underwent 3.136 (CI: 1.433-6.869, P = .004) CPR events for every 1 white patient CPR event. The remainder of variables related to treatment and end-of-life care were not significantly correlated with race. Hispanic patients were less likely to receive cancer-directed therapy within 28 days prior to death (OR: 0.493, CI: 0.247-0.982, P = .044) as compared to non-Hispanic patients, yet they were more likely to report a goal of cure over comfort as compared to non-Hispanic patients (OR: 3.094, CI: 1.043-9.174, P = .042). The remainder of variables were not found to be significantly correlated with ethnicity.

Conclusions:

Race and ethnicity influenced select end-of-life variables for pediatric palliative oncology patients treated at a large urban pediatric cancer center. Further multicenter investigation is needed to ascertain the impact of racial/ethnic disparities on end-of-life experiences of children with cancer.

Predictors of Late Palliative Care Referral in Children With Cancer

CONTEXT

Early integration of palliative care (PC) in the management of children with high-risk cancer is widely endorsed by patients, families, clinicians, and national organizations. However, optimal timing for PC consultation is not standardized, and variables that influence timing of PC integration for children with cancer remain unknown.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate associations between demographic, disease, treatment, and end-of-life attributes and timing of PC consultation for children with high-risk cancer enrolled on a PC service.

METHODS

A comprehensive standardized tool was used to abstract data from the medical records of 321 patients treated at a large academic pediatric cancer center, who died between 2011 and 2015.

RESULTS

Gender, race, ethnicity, enrollment on a Phase I protocol, number of high-acuity hospitalizations, and receipt of cardiopulmonary resuscitation were not associated with timing of PC involvement. Patients with hematologic malignancy, those who received cancer-directed therapy during the last month of life, and those with advance directives documented one week or less before death had higher odds of late PC referral (malignancy: odds ratio [OR] 3.24, P = 0.001; therapy: OR 4.65, P < 0.001; directive: OR 4.81, P < 0.0001). Patients who received hospice services had lower odds of late PC referral <30 days before death (OR 0.31, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Hematologic malignancy, cancer-directed therapy at the end of life, and delayed documentation of advance directives are associated with late PC involvement in children who died of cancer. Identification of these variables affords opportunities to study targeted interventions to enhance access to earlier PC resources and services for children with high-risk cancer and their families.

Predictors of Location of Death for Children with Cancer Enrolled on a Palliative Care Service

BACKGROUND

In the U.S., more children die from cancer than from any other disease, and more than one third die in the hospital setting. These data have been replicated even in subpopulations of children with cancer enrolled on a palliative care service. Children with cancer who die in high-acuity inpatient settings often experience suffering at the end of life, with increased psychosocial morbidities seen in their bereaved parents. Strategies to preemptively identify children with cancer who are more likely to die in high-acuity inpatient settings have not been explored.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A standardized tool was used to gather demographic, disease, treatment, and end-of-life variables for 321 pediatric palliative oncology (PPO) patients treated at an academic pediatric cancer center who died between 2011 and 2015. Multinomial logistic regression was used to predict patient subgroups at increased risk for pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) death.

RESULTS

Higher odds of dying in the PICU were found in patients with Hispanic ethnicity (odds ratio [OR], 4.02; p = .002), hematologic malignancy (OR, 7.42; p < .0001), history of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (OR, 4.52; p < .0001), total number of PICU hospitalizations (OR, 1.98; p < .0001), receipt of cancer-directed therapy during the last month of life (OR, 2.96; p = .002), and palliative care involvement occurring less than 30 days before death (OR, 4.7; p < .0001). Conversely, lower odds of dying in the PICU were found in patients with hospice involvement (OR, 0.02; p < .0001) and documentation of advance directives at the time of death (OR, 0.37; p = .033).

CONCLUSION

Certain variables may predict PICU death for PPO patients, including delayed palliative care involvement. Preemptive identification of patients at risk for PICU death affords opportunities to study the effects of earlier palliative care integration and increased discussions around preferred location of death on end-of-life outcomes for children with cancer and their families.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Children with cancer who die in high-acuity inpatient settings often experience a high burden of intensive therapy at the end of life. Strategies to identify patients at higher risk of dying in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) have not been explored previously. This study finds that certain variables may predict PICU death for pediatric palliative oncology patients, including delayed palliative care involvement. Preemptive identification of patients at risk for PICU death affords opportunities to study the effects of earlier palliative care integration and increased discussions around preferred location of death on end-of-life outcomes for children with cancer and their families.

Illness and end-of-life experiences of children with cancer who receive palliative care

BACKGROUND

The field of pediatric palliative oncology is newly emerging. Little is known about the characteristics and illness experiences of children with cancer who receive palliative care (PC).

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of 321 pediatric oncology patients enrolled in PC who died between 2011 and 2015 was conducted at a large academic pediatric cancer center using a comprehensive standardized data extraction tool.

RESULTS

The majority of pediatric palliative oncology patients received experimental therapy (79.4%), with 40.5% enrolled on a phase I trial. Approximately one-third received cancer-directed therapy during the last month of life (35.5%). More than half had at least one intensive care unit hospitalization (51.4%), with this subset demonstrating considerable exposure to mechanical ventilation (44.8%), invasive procedures (20%), and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (12.1%). Of the 122 patients who died in the hospital, 44.3% died in the intensive care unit. Patients with late PC involvement occurring less than 30 days before death had higher odds of dying in the intensive care unit over the home/hospice setting compared to those with earlier PC involvement (OR: 4.7, 95% CI: 2.47-8.97, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Children with cancer who receive PC experience a high burden of intensive treatments and often die in inpatient intensive care settings. Delayed PC involvement is associated with increased odds of dying in the intensive care unit. Prospective investigation of early PC involvement in children with high-risk cancer is needed to better understand potential impacts on cost-effectiveness, quality of life, and delivery of goal concordant care.