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. 2014 Nov;16(11):1530-40.
doi: 10.1093/neuonc/nou060. Epub 2014 Apr 28.

Hospitalization burden and survival among older glioblastoma patients

Nils D Arvold  1 , Yun Wang  1 , Cory Zigler  1 , Deborah Schrag  1 , Francesca Dominici  1
Affiliations

Hospitalization burden and survival among older glioblastoma patients

Nils D Arvold et al. Neuro Oncol. 2014 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Half of all glioblastoma patients are at least 65 years old. The frequency and duration of hospitalization from disease- and treatment-related morbidity in this population are unknown.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study among patients aged 65 years and older with glioblastoma diagnosed between 1999 and 2007 using SEER-Medicare linked data. Diagnoses and procedures were identified using administrative claims data. Logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of high hospitalization burden.

Results: Among the 5029 patients in the cohort, 52% were ages 65-74, and 52% were male. Twenty-six percent of patients underwent extensive resection, 72% received radiotherapy, and 18% received temozolomide. Median survival was 4.9 months. Among all patients, 21% were hospitalized at least 30 cumulative days between diagnosis and death, and 22% of all patients spent at least one-fourth of their remaining lives as inpatients. Higher comorbidity score (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 1.72; 95% CI, 1.42-2.07) and black race (AHR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.11-2.18) were associated with an increased risk of being hospitalized for at least 25% of remaining life, whereas radiation (AHR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.42-0.58), temozolomide (AHR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.23-0.42), and extensive surgery (AHR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.69-0.99) were associated with a decreased risk.

Conclusions: These data highlight the burden of hospitalization faced by a large proportion of older glioblastoma patients. In the setting of short survival, strategies to reduce the amount of time these patients spend hospitalized are urgently needed, to help maintain quality of life at the end of life.

Keywords: elderly; glioblastoma; hospitalization; survival; temozolomide.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Assembly of the study cohort. MCO, managed care organization.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Overall survival of older glioblastoma patients, from date of diagnosis, with accompanying 95% CI lines.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Risk-adjusted odds ratios for spending ≥25% of remaining life hospitalized.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Risk-adjusted odds ratios for spending ≥25% of remaining life hospitalized, stratified by treatment era. X-axis displayed on a logarithmic scale.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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