31 Background: GBM is associated with a poor prognosis and early death in elderly patients. Prior studies have demonstrated a high burden of hospitalization in this population. We sought to evaluate and examine trends in hospitalizations and EOL care in GBM survivors. Methods: Using SEER-Medicare linked data, we performed a retrospective observational cohort study of patients aged ≥ 65 years diagnosed with GBM from 2005-2017 who lived at least 6 months from the time of diagnosis. Aggressive EOL care was defined as: chemotherapy or radiotherapy within 14 days of death (DOD), surgery within 30 DOD, > 1 emergency department visit, ≥ 1 hospitalization or intensive care unit admission within 30 DOD; in-hospital death; or hospice enrollment ≤ 3 DOD. We evaluated age, race, ethnicity, marital status, gender, socioeconomic status, comorbidities, prior treatment and percentage of time hospitalized. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine factors associated with aggressive end of life care. Results: Of 5827 patients, 2269 (38.9%) survived at least 6 months. Among these, 1106 (48.7%) survived 6-12 months, 558 (24.6%) survived 12-18 months, and 605 (26.7%) survived > 18 months. Patients who survived 6-12 months had the highest burden of hospitalization and spent a median of 10.6% of their remaining life in the hospital compared to those surviving 12-18 months (5.4%) and > 18 months (3%) (P < 0.001). 10.1% of the cohort had claims for palliative care services; 49.8% of initial palliative care consults occurred in the last 30 days of life. Hospice claims existed in 83% with a median length of stay 33 days (IQR 12, 79 days). 30.1% of subjects received aggressive EOL care. Receiving chemo at any time (OR 1.510, 95% CI 1.221-1.867) and spending ≥ 20% of life in the hospital after diagnosis (OR 3.331, 95% CI 2.567-4.324) were associated with aggressive EOL care. Women (OR 0.759, 95% CI 0.624-0.922), patients with higher socioeconomic status (OR 0.533, 95% CI 0.342-0.829), and those diagnosed ≥ age 80 (OR 0.723, 95% CI 0.528-0.991) were less likely to receive aggressive EOL care. Race, ethnicity, marital status, and extent of initial resection were not associated with aggressive EOL care. Conclusions: A minority of elderly patients with GBM in the SEER-Medicare database survived ≥ 6 months; hospitalizations were common and patients spent a significant proportion of their remaining life hospitalized. Although hospice utilization was high in this cohort, 30% of patients received aggressive EOL care. Despite the aggressive nature of GBM, few patients had palliative care consults during their illness. Increased utilization of palliative care services may help reduce hospitalization burden and aggressive EOL care in this population.
What Is the End of Life Period? Trajectories and Characterization Based on Primary Caregiver Reports
