Factors affecting mortality at home and hospital in oncology patients and the effect of age

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.