Burden of Healthcare Utilization among Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients with and without Cancer Receiving Palliative Care: A Population-Based Study in Taiwan

Li-Ting Kao, Kuo-Chen Cheng, Chin-Ming Chen, Shian-Chin Ko, Ping-Jen Chen, Kuang-Ming Liao and Chung-Han Ho
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Li-Ting Kao: Department of Respiratory Therapy, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan 71004, Taiwan
Kuo-Chen Cheng: Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan 71004, Taiwan
Chin-Ming Chen: Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan 71004, Taiwan
Shian-Chin Ko: Palliative Care Center, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan 71004, Taiwan
Ping-Jen Chen: Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London W1T 7NF, UK
Kuang-Ming Liao: Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Chiali, Tainan 72263, Taiwan
Chung-Han Ho: Department of Medical Research, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan 71004, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-12

Abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic disease that burdens patients worldwide. This study aims to discover the burdens of health services among COPD patients who received palliative care (PC). Study subjects were identified as COPD patients with ICU and PC records between 2009 and 2013 in Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database. The burdens of healthcare utilization were analyzed using logistic regression to estimate the difference between those with and without cancer. Of all 1215 COPD patients receiving PC, patients without cancer were older and had more comorbidities, higher rates of ICU admissions, and longer ICU stays than those with cancer. COPD patients with cancer received significantly more blood transfusions (Odds Ratio, OR: 1.66; 95% C.I.: 1.11–2.49) and computed tomography scans (OR: 1.88; 95% C.I.: 1.10–3.22) compared with those without cancer. Bronchoscopic interventions (OR: 0.26; 95% C.I.: 0.07–0.97) and inpatient physical restraints (OR: 0.24; 95% C.I.: 0.08–0.72) were significantly more utilized in patients without cancer. COPD patients without cancer appeared to receive more invasive healthcare interventions than those without cancer. The unmet needs and preferences of patients in the life-limiting stage should be taken into consideration for the quality of care in the ICU environment.

Keywords: palliative care; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; healthcare utilization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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