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. 2017 Jan;69(1):60-68.
doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2016.07.028. Epub 2016 Sep 29.

Trends in Receipt of Intensive Procedures at the End of Life Among Patients Treated With Maintenance Dialysis

Nwamaka D Eneanya  1 , Susan M Hailpern  2 , Ann M O'Hare  3 , Manjula Kurella Tamura  4 , Ronit Katz  2 , William Kreuter  2 , Maria E Montez-Rath  5 , Paul L Hebert  6 , Yoshio N Hall  2
Affiliations

Trends in Receipt of Intensive Procedures at the End of Life Among Patients Treated With Maintenance Dialysis

Nwamaka D Eneanya et al. Am J Kidney Dis. 2017 Jan.

Abstract

Background: Many dialysis patients receive intensive procedures intended to prolong life at the very end of life. However, little is known about trends over time in the use of these procedures. We describe temporal trends in receipt of inpatient intensive procedures during the last 6 months of life among patients treated with maintenance dialysis.

Study design: Mortality follow-back study.

Setting & participants: 649,607 adult Medicare beneficiaries on maintenance dialysis therapy who died in 2000 to 2012.

Predictors: Period of death (2000-2003, 2004-2008, or 2009-2012), age at time of death (18-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, and ≥85 years), and race/ethnicity (Hispanic, non-Hispanic black, or non-Hispanic white).

Outcome: Receipt of an inpatient intensive procedure (defined as invasive mechanical ventilation/intubation, tracheostomy, gastrostomy/jejunostomy tube insertion, enteral or parenteral nutrition, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation) during the last 6 months of life.

Results: Overall, 34% of cohort patients received an intensive procedure in the last 6 months of life, increasing from 29% in 2000 to 36% in 2012 (with 2000-2003 as the referent category; adjusted risk ratios [RRs] were 1.06 [95% CI, 1.05-1.07] and 1.10 [95% CI, 1.09-1.12] for 2004-2008 and 2009-2012, respectively). Use of intensive procedures increased more markedly over time in younger versus older patients (comparing 2009-2012 to 2000-2003, adjusted RR was 1.18 [95% CI, 1.15-1.20] for the youngest age group as opposed to 1.00 [95% CI, 0.96-1.04] for the oldest group). Comparing 2009 to 2012 to 2000 to 2003, the use of intensive procedures increased more dramatically for Hispanic patients than for non-Hispanic black or non-Hispanic white patients (adjusted RRs of 1.18 [95% CI, 1.14-1.22], 1.09 [95% CI, 1.07-1.11], and 1.10 [95% CI, 1.08-1.12], respectively).

Limitations: Data sources do not provide insight into reasons for observed trends in the use of intensive procedures.

Conclusions: Among patients treated with maintenance dialysis, there is a trend toward more frequent use of intensive procedures at the end of life, especially in younger patients and those of Hispanic ethnicity.

Keywords: End-of-life; Hispanic; Medicare spending; age differences; dialysis; elderly; end-stage renal disease (ESRD); ethnic disparities; health care costs; hospitalization; intensive procedures; mortality follow-back.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study flow chart
Figure 2
Figure 2
Proportion of patients receiving intensive procedures in the last 6 months of life: 2000–2012
Figure 3
Figure 3
Proportion of patients receiving an intensive procedure in the last 6 months of life by age and race/ethnicity: 2000–2012
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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