End-of-life care preferences in penile cancer patients: Shifting patterns and disparities over two decades.

Abstract

5 Background: Penile cancer (PC) is often diagnosed late, which leads to advanced disease. Studies have reported that less than 18% of individuals with metastatic PC receive any kind of palliative therapy. Place of Death (PoD) is a crucial determinant of patient and caregiver preferences and the cost of caregiving at the end of life (EOL). We aimed to evaluate the trends in PoD for patients with PC in the U.S. from 2003 to 2023 based on the CDC WONDER (Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research) database. Methods: We analyzed data from January 01, 2003, to December 31, 2023. The data for deaths due to PC were pooled using the International Classification of Diseases-10th Revision code as C60 for malignant neoplasm of the penis. The inclusion criteria included patients aged > 25 years. PoD is defined as deaths at home and hospice (H&H) versus medical facilities. Average annual percentage change (AAPC) was calculated using the Joinpoint Regression Program, version 5.0.2. Results: The analysis demonstrated a total of n = 6,074 deaths from PC. A total of 52.1% of deaths, n = 3,167, were reported at H&H. The trend analysis demonstrates an exponential rise in H&H utilization from 34.4% in 2003 to 57.5% in 2023, AAPC [5.4284, CI (4.7-6.10, p < 0.000001]. A significant increase in the utilization of H&H is notable in both African Americans (AA), AAPC [2.8514, CI (1.0-4.7), p = 0.004], and the White population, AAPC [5.3497, CI (4.6-6.0); p < 0.000001]. However, a racial disparity is also noted, with 45.4% in AA, while the White population is at 52.5% deaths in H&H-based care. PC mortality in medical facilities has a 29.7% decline from 2003 to 2023. On age stratification, there was a significant increase in utilizing H&H as PoD for the 45-64 years cohort AAPC [4.29, CI (3.2, 5.2), p < 0.000001], similarly, with the older age group 65+ cohorts AAPC [6.26, CI (5.4, 7.0), p < 0.000001]. In contrast, the younger cohort deduced no significant trend AAPC [2.92, CI (-1.5, 7.6), p = 0.14]. Conclusions: This is the first study to our knowledge providing valuable insights into the evolving PoD preferences among PC patients in the U.S.The age-related trends underscore the importance of tailoring end-of-life care strategies to specific age cohorts. The findings emphasize the importance of policies promoting and supporting H&H care for PC patients. Targeted efforts are warranted to address notable disparities in PoD preferences among racial and age groups.