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. (Funded by an American
Society of Clinical Oncology Career Development Award and philanthropic gifts;
ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01038271.)
BackgroundPatients with metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer have a substantial symptomburden and may receive aggressive care at the end of life. We examined the effectof introducing palliative care early after diagnosis on patient-reported outcomesand end-of-life care among ambulatory patients with newly diagnosed disease.MethodsWe randomly assigned patients with newly diagnosed metastatic non–small-celllung cancer to receive either early palliative care integrated with standard oncologiccare or standard oncologic care alone. Quality of life and mood were assessedat baseline and at 12 weeks with the use of the Functional Assessment of CancerTherapy–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.ResultsOf the 151 patients who underwent randomization, 27 died by 12 weeks and 107(86% of the remaining patients) completed assessments. Patients assigned to earlypalliative care had a better quality of life than did patients assigned to standardcare (mean score on the FACT-L scale [in which scores range from 0 to 136, withhigher 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 haddepressive symptoms (16% vs. 38%, P=0.01). Despite the fact that fewer patients inthe early palliative care group than in the standard care group received aggressiveend-of-life care (33% vs. 54%, P=0.05), median survival was longer among patientsreceiving early palliative care (11.6 months vs. 8.9 months, P=0.02).ConclusionsAmong patients with metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer, early palliative care ledto significant improvements in both quality of life and mood. As compared withpatients receiving standard care, patients receiving early palliative care had lessaggressive care at the end of life but longer survival. (Funded by an AmericanSociety of Clinical Oncology Career Development Award and philanthropic gifts;ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01038271.)
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