Beyond Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Diagnosis: Multidisciplinary Care With an Early Integrated Palliative Approach Is Associated With a Decrease in Acute Care Utilization and Hospital Deaths

Context

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, incurable interstitial lung disease with heavy symptom burden and poor quality of life. The last year of life is characterized by increased acute care utilization and hospital deaths. Clinical guidelines recommend early integration of palliative care but are rarely implemented. In 2012, we reorganized our clinic into a multidisciplinary team comprising two pulmonologists (expertise in interstitial lung disease and palliative respiratory care, respectively), nurse, respiratory therapist, physiotherapist, and a dietitian. We adopted an early integrated palliative approach with a focus on early symptom management and advance care planning starting at the first clinic visit. We designed a Multidisciplinary collaborative (MDC) care model with emphasis on community-based care to manage patients in their homes and support caregivers.

Objectives

Exploratory analysis of this model's association with acute care utilization in the last year of life and location of death was undertaken.

Methods

Data from deceased IPF patients before and after 2012 (non-MDC and MDC care model, respectively) were collected, and statistical analysis was performed.

Results

Patients in MDC care were 24.2 times less likely to have respiratory-related emergency room visits (95% CI: 3.12–187.44, P = 0.002), 2.32 times less likely to have respiratory-related hospitalizations (95% CI: 0.95–5.6, P = 0.064). The odds of achieving a home or hospice death in MDC care were 9.2 times compared to non-MDC care, who die mostly in the hospital (95% CI: 1.14–75, P = 0.037).

Conclusions

MDC care model for IPF was associated with reduced health care use in the last year of life and more home deaths.