Palliative Care Underutilized in Patients with High-Risk Brain Metastases
Nearly half of patients with high-risk brain metastases did not receive palliative care consultations, highlighting ongoing gaps in access. According to a study reported in Healio of 487 patients, those who received palliative care had no significant difference in overall survival compared with those who did not. However, palliative care was associated with substantially higher rates of advance directive completion and hospice enrollment, which were key indicators of quality care. The findings reinforce that palliative care should be integrated earlier to better support patients, improve care planning, and align treatment with patient goals.