Factors predicting home death for terminally ill cancer patients receiving hospital-based home care: the Lyon comprehensive cancer center experience.

Abstract

This study aimed to determine factors favoring home death for cancer patients in a context of coordinated home care. A retrospective study was conducted among patients followed up by the home care coordinating unit of the cancer center of Lyon. The main endpoint was place of death. Univariate analysis included general characteristics (age, gender, rural or urban residence, disease), Karnofsky Index (KI), type of care at referral (chemotherapy, palliative care, or other supportive care), and coordinating medical oncologist (MCO) home visits. Significant factors were used in a logistic regression analysis. Of 250 patients, 90 (36%) had home death. Low KI and MCO home visit were correlated with home death (odds ratio, respectively, 2.1 and 3.1). These results indicate that health care support favors home death. A hospital-based home care unit is effective for bridging the gap between community and hospital. MCO home visits offer concrete support to health care professionals, patients, and relatives.