Publication
Medication utilization for symptom management by pediatric inpatients with cancer at end-of-life
Prozora S, Shabanova V, Massaro S, Davidoff A · Pediatric Blood and Cancer · 2019
Background: Despite advances in pediatric oncology care, most children that die each year from cancer report significant suffering at end-of-life. Commonly reported symptoms include pain, anxiety, and nausea. More than half of pediatric cancer patients die in the hospital, yet little is known about medication use for symptom management during their terminal hospitalizations. Objective(s): To describe the utilization patterns of opiates, benzodiazepines, and gastrointestinal (GI) related medications for commonly reported symptoms by pediatric cancer inpatients during their last week of life. Design/Method: This retrospective study uses data from the Vizient clinical database/resource manager (CDB/RMTM), a compilation of clinical and resource use data from over 100 academic medical centers and their affiliates nationally. Pediatric patients (ages 0-21) with a diagnosis of malignancy who died during an inpatient hospitalization from 2010-2017 were included (n = 1,659). Patients admitted for less than 1 week were excluded. Individual medications were categorized as opiate, benzodiazepine, or GI-related. Exposure to each group was ascertained for all patients at two time points: one week and one day prior to death. Factors associated with the time of exposure were examined using generalized estimating equations. Results were summarized using adjusted odds ratios (aOR). Result(s): Opiate exposure increased from 76% one week prior to death to 82% one day prior (aOR 1.5; p<0.001). Similarly, use of benzodiazepines also increased from 53% to 66% (aOR 1.3; p = 0.024). Receipt of GI medications decreased from 92% to 89% (aOR 0.7; p = 0.001). Opiates and benzodiazepines were more likely to be administered to patients with solid tumor diagnosis (aOR 1.4, 1.2), history of bone marrow transplant (BMT) (aOR 1.3, 1.4), and longer length of stay (LOS), respectively. Benzodiazepine utilization was lower among blacks (aOR 0.6) and Medicaid recipients (aOR 0.8). GI medications were also more likely to be received by patientswith history ofBMT(aOR 1.8) and longer LOS; additionally, exposure was higher in those age 5-9 (aOR 1.9) and of Asian race (aOR 2.5). Reported aORs are significant at p<0.05. Gender, ethnicity, study year, location in ICU, and DNR status did not significantly affect exposure in any category. Conclusion(s): Not all patients are receiving medications typically used for symptom management in the week preceding death. Opiate and benzodiazepine exposure increased while GI medication use decreased. Earlier and more consistent intervention with these medications may reduce patient suffering. Furthermore, variability in utilization associated with patient characteristics suggests differences in symptomatology and provider/family decision-making warranting further study.
Synced from the TRENDS in Pediatric Palliative Care Zotero library, curated by The Siden Research Team. ICPCN does not host or verify the full text.