Near-Death Quality of Life in Cancer Patients on Home Parenteral Nutrition.

Abstract

Background: The impact of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) on the quality of life (QoL) of cancer patients has been previously investigated. However, scarce data are available regarding near-death QoL in patients with cancer receiving HPN. This study aims to investigate the changes of QoL in these patients in the last two months before death. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a previous, prospective, longitudinal, observational study. QoL was assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Results: Eighty-four adult cancer patients who died on HPN and had filled out the questionnaire between 31 and 60 days (M2) and within 30 days prior (M1) to death were included in this analysis. The questionnaires filled out at M2 and M1 were compared with those filled out by the same patients at HPN start (T0). At M2, there was a significant improvement in both the global QoL and symptoms scales (p < 0.001 and p < 0.033, respectively), while at M1, a significant improvement in the global QoL scale persisted (p < 0.035) compared with T0. Conclusions: Our study first reports that HPN, if started early and according to European guidelines, is associated with an improvement in the QoL of patients with cancer even in the last two months before death.