Predictors of Placement of Inpatient Palliative Care Consult Orders Among Patients With Breast, Lung, and Colon Cancer in a Safety Net Hospital System

Background: The provision of palliative and end-of-life care to patients who are underrepresented and underserved provides unique challenges and opportunities. Objectives: To examine predictors of placement of inpatient palliative care consult orders among patients with breast, lung, and colorectal cancer hospitalized in a safety net hospital in 2010. Methods: Simple and multivariable logistic regression of data on selected patients with cancer was performed to identify predictors of placement of inpatient palliative care consult orders. Results: Of 979 patients, 56% had colorectal cancer, 23% had lung cancer, and 21% had breast cancer. Of those patients, 16% received an order for inpatient palliative care consultation during the study period. Patients who had more than 20 prescriptions for opioids ordered (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 9.10, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.62-17.95), had an order for a radiation oncology consult (AOR: 2.60, 95% CI: 1.50-4.49), or had low albumin (AOR: 2.75, 95% CI: 4.71) were more likely to have an order for an inpatient palliative care consult placed. Race and ethnicity were not statistically significant predictors. Conclusion: In this cohort of patients in a safety net hospital, markers of pain, advanced disease, and poor prognosis were associated with placement of inpatient palliative care consult orders.