The challenge of sustainability in healthcare systems: frequency and cost of diagnostic procedures in end-of-life cancer patients

none13noBackground: Literature data on the overuse and misuse of diagnostic procedures leading to end-of-life aggressiveness are scarce due to the limited amount of estimated economic waste. This study investigated the potential overuse of diagnostic procedures in a population of end-of-life patients. Methods: This is a retrospective study on consecutive advanced patients admitted into two Italian hospices. Frequency and relative costs of X-ray imaging, CT scans, MRI, and interventional procedures prescribed in the 3 months before admission were collected in patient electronic charts and/or in administrative databases. We conducted a deeper analysis of 83 cancer patients with a diagnosis of at least 1 year before admission to compare the number of examinations performed at two distant time periods. Results: Out of 541 patients, 463 (85.6%) had at least one radiological exam in the 3 months before last admission. The mean radiological exam number was 3.9 ± 3.2 with a relative mean cost of 278.60 ± 270.20 € per patient with a statistically significant (p < 0.001) rise near death. In the 86-patient group, a higher number of procedures was performed in the last 3 months of life than in the first quarter of the year preceding last admission (38.43 ± 28.62 vs. 27.95 ± 23.21, p < 0.001) with a consequent increase in cost. Conclusions: Patients nearing death are subjected to a high level of “diagnostic aggressiveness.” Further studies on the integration of palliative care into the healthcare pathway could impact the appropriateness of interventions, quality of care, and, ultimately, estimated costs.noneMassa I.; Balzi W.; Altini M.; Berte R.; Bosco M.; Cassinelli D.; Vignola V.; Cavanna L.; Foca F.; Dall'Agata M.; Nanni O.; Rossi R.; Maltoni M.Massa I.; Balzi W.; Altini M.; Berte R.; Bosco M.; Cassinelli D.; Vignola V.; Cavanna L.; Foca F.; Dall'Agata M.; Nanni O.; Rossi R.; Maltoni M