Earlier Palliative Care Referrals Linked to Better Outcomes in Patients With Metastatic Cancer
A study in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management examined referral patterns for outpatient palliative care among 779 patients with metastatic solid tumors. Researchers found that referral timing varied significantly by cancer type and insurance status, with fewer than 40% of patients referred within three months of advanced cancer diagnosis. Earlier referral was associated with better outcomes, including increased hospice enrollment, lower use of chemotherapy in the last month of life, fewer hospital deaths, and reduced ICU utilization. The timing of referral had a greater impact on outcomes than the number of palliative care visits, supporting more targeted and timely models of palliative care integration.