Factors Affecting Mortality at Home and Hospital in Oncology Patients and the Effect of Age
Received Date : 22 Oct 2023
Accepted Date : 23 Feb 2024
Available Online : 15 Mar 2024
Sema YILMAZ RAKICIa, Özlem TERZİb, Songül ÖZYURTc, Zihni Acar YAZICId
aRecep Tayyip Erdoğan University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rize, Türkiye
bOndokuz Mayıs University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Samsun, Türkiye
cRecep Tayyip Erdoğan University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Chest Diseases, Rize, Türkiye
dRecep Tayyip Erdoğan University Faculty of Medicine, Clinical Microbiology Department, Rize, Türkiye
Doi: 10.37047/jos.2023-99971 - Article's Language: EN
J Oncol Sci.
ABSTRACT
Objective: Several factors assessing cancer mortality and impacting the choice of place of death for terminally ill patients have been
previously documented. We examined the relationships between several oncological factors, including age, on cancer mortality and the choice
of place of death. Material and Methods: All patient data were collected retrospectively from hospital computer records and medical chart reviews.
A total of 2,183 patients admitted to our hospital over 6 years (September 2013-December 2019) were included. Results: A total of 2,183
patients were analyzed, of which 58.5% (n=1,277) of patients died. More deaths occurred in the hospital than at home (n=1,032 vs. n=245). The
mean age of patients who died at home was more than those who died in the hospital (mean ages: 68.4±12.5 vs. 63.5±12.5; median ages: 69, range
24-100 vs. 63, range 19-97). The hospital mortality rate of patients <65 years old was statistically higher than patients ≥65 years old. Conclusion:
We found that a second primary cancer, metastasis, diagnosis from the primary mass, certain cancer diagnoses (such as lungs, stomach, and
brain cancers), locally advanced and metastatic stage cancers, certain histological types, late diagnosis (the first application to branches such as
chest diseases, emergency, neurosurgery) negatively affected mortality. In addition, we determined that metastatic, locally advanced stage. and
patients aged <65 years of age died more frequently in the hospital.
Keywords: Cancer mortality; home care; hospital palliative supportive treatment; home health services