Comparison of physician-delivered models of virtual and home-based in-person care for adults in the last 90 days of life with cancer and terminal noncancer illness during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

<p>Objective To measure the association between types of serious illness and the use of different physician-delivered care models near the EOL during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design, setting and participants Population-based cohort study using health administrative datasets in Ontario, Canada, for adults aged ≥18 years in their last 90 days of life who died of cancer or terminal noncancer illness and received physician-delivered care models near the end-of-life between March 14, 2020 and January 24, 2022. Exposure The type of serious illness (cancer or terminal noncancer illness). Main outcome Physician-delivered care models for adults in the last 90 days of life (exclusively virtual, exclusively home-based in-person, or mixed). Results The study included 75,930 adults (median age 78 years, 49% female, cancer n = 58,894 [78%], noncancer illness n = 17,036 [22%]). A higher proportion of people with cancer (39.3%) received mixed model of care compared to those with noncancer illnesses (chronic organ failure 24.4%, dementia 37.9%, multimorbidity 28%). Compared to people with cancer, people with chronic organ failure (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.61, 95% CI: 1.54 to 1.68) and those with multimorbidity ([aOR], 1.49, 95% CI: 1.39 to 1.59) had a higher odds of receiving virtual care than a mixed model of care. People with dementia had a higher odds of home-based in-person care than a mixed model of care ([aOR], 1.47, 95% CI 1.27, 1.71) and virtual care ([aOR], 1.40, 95% CI 1.20–1.62) compared to people with cancer. Conclusion A person’s type of serious illness was associated with different care models near the end-of-life. This study demonstrates persistent disease-specific differences in care delivery or possibly the tailoring of models of care in the last 90 days of life based on a person’s specific care needs.</p>