Quality of End-of-Life Care in Gastrointestinal Cancers: A 13-Year Population-Based Retrospective Analysis in Ontario, Canada

Population-based quality indicators of either aggressive or supportive care at end of life (EOL), especially when specific to a cancer type, help to inform quality improvement efforts. This is a population-based, retrospective cohort study of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer decedents in Ontario from 1 January 2006-31 December 2018, using administrative data. Quality indices included hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) use, intensive care unit admissions, receipt of chemotherapy, physician house call, and palliative home care in the last 14-30 days of life. Previously defined aggregate measures of both aggressive and supportive care at end of life were also used. In our population of 69,983 patients who died of a GI malignancy during the study period, the odds of experiencing aggressive care at EOL remained stable, while the odds of experiencing supportive care at EOL increased. Most of our population received palliative care in the last year of life (n = 65,076, 93.0%) and a palliative care home care service in the last 30 days of life (n = 45,327, 70.0%). A significant number of patients also experienced death in an acute care hospital bed (n = 28,721, 41.0%) or had a new hospitalisation in the last 30 days of life (n = 33,283, 51.4%). The majority of patients received palliative care in the last year of life, and a majority received a palliative care home service within the last 30 days of life. The odds of receiving supportive care at EOL have increased over time. Differences in care exist according to income, age, and rurality.

Automated summary

Population-based quality indicators for end-of-life care, specifically for gastrointestinal cancer patients, can provide valuable information for quality improvement efforts. This retrospective cohort study in Ontario analyzed administrative data from 2006 to 2018 and found that the odds of receiving supportive care at end of life increased over time, while the odds of receiving aggressive care remained stable. The majority of patients received palliative care in the last year of life and a palliative care home service in the last 30 days of life. However, there were differences in care based on income, age, and rurality.