Symptom Management and Support in Dying Patients with Cancer and Coronavirus Disease-19—A Register-Based Study

Abstract

Objective Little is known to what extent access to specialist palliative care (SPC) for cancer patients dying with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) affects the occurrence of breakthrough symptoms, symptom relief, and overall care, compared to hospital deaths. Our aim was to include patients with both COVID-19 and cancer and compare those dying in hospitals with those dying in SPC with reference to the quality of end-of-life care. Methods Patients with both cancer and COVID-19 who died in hospitals ( n = 430) and within SPC ( n = 384) were identified from the Swedish Register of Palliative Care. The hospital and SPC groups were compared regarding the quality of end-of-life care, including the occurrence of 6 breakthrough symptoms during the last week in life, symptom relief, end-of-life care decisions, information, support, and human presence at death. Results Breakthrough of breathlessness was more common in the hospital patients compared to the SPC patients (61% and 39%, respectively; p < .001), while pain was less common (65% and 78%, respectively; p < .001). Breakthrough of nausea, anxiety, respiratory secretions, or confusion did not differ. All 6 symptoms, except for confusion, were more often completely relieved in SPC ( p = .014 to p < .001 in different comparisons). In SPC, a documented decision about the goal being end-of-life care and information about this were more common than in hospitals ( p < .001). Also, to have family members present at the time of death and for family members to be offered a follow-up talk afterward was more common in SPC ( p < .001). Conclusion More systematic palliative care routines may be an important factor for better symptom control and higher quality of end-of-life care in hospitals.