Impact of COVID-19 on the End-of-Life Care of Cancer Patients Who Died in a Korean Tertiary Hospital: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused global excess mortality [1]. In addition to quantitative changes, social distancing and hospital policies such as visitor restrictions have left seriously ill patients isolated, even dur-ing the end of life (EOL) [2], leading to qualitative changes in EOL care. This problem is not entirely specific to the CO-VID-19 pandemic, as healthcare systems have been radically overwhelmed in previous epidemics and pandemics of severe acute respiratory syndrome, Ebola virus, and human influenza virus [3,4]. During these events, people face severe challenges,

Inpatient Hospice Care in Korea during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Preliminary Study

“…A small number of studies from other countries have reported on hospice utilization during the COVID-19 outbreak, with varying results [ 4 , 5 ]. In Korea, one recent study indicated that end-of-life (EOL) care for patients with cancer worsened during the pandemic [ 6 ]; however, that study relied on indirect indicators such as distressing symptoms identified through chart audits, medical procedures performed in the dying phase, consultations for hospice care, place of death, and aggressive care in the final months. The indicators we employed exhibit greater validity, considering that the primary objective of hospice is to provide comfort to patients and their families.…”