Association Between the Timing of Goals-of-Care Discussion and Hospitalization Outcomes in Patients With Metastatic Cancer

Background: Patients with cancer often require acute hospitalizations, many of which are unplanned. These hospitalizations have been shown to increase in frequency near the end of life. The American College of Physicians recommends that goals-of-care (GOC) discussions be initiated early for metastatic cancers. We hypothesized that discussing GOC during hospitalization could help reduce readmissions. Our aim was to examine the association between the timing of GOC discussion, length of hospital stay, and the time to readmission. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of medical records of patients with stage IV cancers hospitalized between August 2017 and July 2018. We recorded timing of GOC discussion, use of palliative care services, and hospital readmissions within 90 days. chi(2) tests were used to identify independent associations with GOC discussion, and logistic regression was used to examine association with readmission within 90 days. Results: Of all study patients (N = 241), 40.6% were female, 46% (n = 112) had a GOC discussion, and 34% (n = 82) had a palliative care consultation. Having a palliative care consult and being admitted to critical care were independently associated with having a GOC discussion. Early timing of GOC discussion was inversely associated with admission to critical care units (P < .05). Thirty-eight percent (n = 92) had unplanned hospital readmission within 90 days. Having a GOC discussion was independently associated with a reduction in the odds of an unplanned hospital readmission within 90 days by 79% (odds ratio = 0.21, 95% confidence interval: 0.12-0.37). Conclusion: Among hospitalized patients with stage IV cancer, performing an early GOC discussion has an important association with lower hospital readmission rates and increased rates of goal-congruent patient care.