Literature Review

Impact of inpatient palliative care on end-of-life care among patients with early-onset colorectal cancerJournal of Clinical Oncology; Suriya Baskar, Bohae R Lee, Rajiv Midha, Udhayvir Singh Grewal; 1/25Palliative care has proven benefits in elderly patients with advanced cancer; however, the objective benefits of palliative care in younger patients with cancer remain under-studied. We sought to examine the impact of inpatient palliative care consultation on end-of-life (EOL) care among hospitalized patients with early-onset colorectal cancer (EO-CRC). Inpatient palliative care consultation at EOL among patients with EOCRC was associated with lesser use of aggressive interventions and higher rates of DNR code status. We also noted significantly lower costs of hospitalization among patients receiving inpatient palliative care consultation at EOL. These results underscore the importance of integration of inpatient palliative care consultation among patients with EOCRC at EOL. 

How to help caregivers of patients with dementia Physician's Weekly; by Linda Girgis, MD, FAAP; 2/13/25 Dr. Linda Girgis discusses how physicians can assist caregivers of patients with dementia, helping these critical caretakers avoid experiencing burnout. ... As doctors, we all have witnessed caregiver burnout. Often, it was a family member who bore the brunt of the responsibility, one for whom there were no vacation days or sick time available. Whatever specialty we practice, we know patients with dementia can present a significant problem. ... How can we assist caregivers of patients with dementia?

A CEO’s strategic guide to leading people facing cancer CEO World Magazine; by Joelle Kaufman; 2/10/25 Cancer doesn’t just affect individuals – it impacts entire organizations. As leaders, we must anticipate and prepare for the moment when cancer touches our teams. With over 18 million cancer survivors currently in the U.S. workforce and over 2 million new diagnoses annually, the question isn’t if cancer will affect your organization but when and how you’ll respond. ... The first step will be how you respond when an employee shares that cancer is impacting their life. The second step is how you will manage while cancer is having its impact. ... When we get this right, we build more than just protocols – we build resilient organizations that demonstrate our values through action. In doing so, we create the kind of workplace where people can bring their whole selves, face life’s challenges with dignity, and continue contributing meaningfully to our shared mission. Editor's note: Getting this "right" matters especially for hospice and palliative care organizations. Read this article for both strategic professional guidelines and a personal story from a CMO/business owner.

Rock legend reveals he can’t walk, is grateful to be alive ahead of farewell show Penn-Live Patriot News; by Brian Linder; 2/7/25 Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath revealed this week that they are reuniting for one final show, and there’s no doubt it will be a special occasion. And, while it seems a lot of bands announce farewells only to make a comeback years down the line, this really does appear to be it for Osbourne and Black Sabbath. And that’s because Osbourne, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease back in 2020, is struggling health wise. "I have made it to 2025,” Osbourne said ...  “I can’t walk, but you know what I was thinking over the holidays? For all my complaining, I’m still alive. I may be moaning that I can’t walk, but I look down the road and there’s people that didn’t do half as much as me and didn’t make it.”

Assessment of organ donation knowledge and attitudes among patients visiting the nephrology outpatient clinic at a tertiary healthcare facilityOmega-Journal of Death and Dying; Ezgi Yarasir, Mehtap Gomleksiz, Muhammet Ridvan Gomleksiz, Ayhan Dogukan; 1/25This study aims to assess the knowledge levels, attitudes, and influencing factors related to organ donation among patients who visited the Nephrology outpatient clinic. A total of 37.5% of the participants stated that they were considering organ donation. Participants with a high school education or higher, those who believed they had sufficient knowledge about organ donation, and those who had a family member awaiting organ transplantation demonstrated a positive attitude toward organ donation ... Understanding societal knowledge and attitudes about organ donation is crucial for assessing individual awareness of this issue.

New report details financial, emotional toll of Parkinson’s on family caregivers McKnights Home Care; by Foster Stubbs; 2/4/25 A new report sheds a light on the unique challenges faced by family caregivers who care for loved ones with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The report, Parkinson’s Disease Caregiving in the US, features insights from secondary analysis and supplementary interviews with 10 PD caregivers. These caregivers average 31 hours of unpaid care per week; half of interviewed caregivers exceed 100 hours each week, according to the report. The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC), with support from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) and Arcadia University, released the report.  

ASCO updates Guidelines for Ovarian Cancer Cancer Therapy Advisor; by Jen Smith; 2/4/25 The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has updated its guidelines on neoadjuvant chemotherapy use in patients with newly diagnosed, stage III-IV epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer. The guideline authors used data from 61 studies to provide recommendations. ... [Click here for the research article.]

Experts are debating whether some cancers shouldn’t be called thatJAMA; Rita Rubin, MA; 1/25Back in 2012, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) convened a conference to discuss the overdiagnosis and overtreatment of indolent tumors—asymptomatic lesions unlikely to progress for years—that are detected by mammography, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, and other screening tools. “I don’t think the name is that important,” acknowledged Hwang, who participated in the 2012 NCI conference about overdiagnosis and overtreatment. “It’s how we react to the diagnosis and how we convey risk to the patients.” In other words, stop calling low-risk tumors cancer, but make sure patients understand that such lesions are risk factors for cancer and, therefore, require diligent monitoring. Or keep calling the tumors cancer, but make sure patients understand that these lesions are unlikely to cause problems, so active surveillance, not immediate treatment, is appropriate.

Overcoming barriers to make patient-reported outcome collection the standard of care in oncologyJAMA Oncology; James A. Colbert, MD, MBA; Louis Potters, MD; 1/25Multiple studies have demonstrated the clear benefits of collecting patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in oncology care. These benefits include measurable effects on patient symptom burden, toxicity, emergency department (ED) use, and even cancer survival. Despite these well-recorded advantages, adoption of PRO collection beyond research studies and clinical trials remains low. Barriers to more widespread adoption in oncology care include clinician skepticism, historical technological limitations, and the challenges related to change management. We owe it to patients to make PRO collection standard practice. Achieving this will require additional education, the embrace of new technologies, and a willingness among clinicians to follow the data and adopt new routines that will necessitate changing established patient care models.

Palliative care may improve quality of life in esophageal cancer Cure; by Tim Cortese; 1/27/25 Palliative care consultations helped patients with esophageal cancer at end-of-life experience better quality of life and less financial strain by reducing the need for intensive interventions, according to a poster presented at the 2025 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. The mean length of hospital stay was 7.5 days (plus or minus 11.3 days) for patients who received palliative care and 8.9 days (plus or minus 14.9) for those who didn’t; and total charges were $97,879 (plus or minus $195,868) and $146,128 (plus or minus $321,830), respectively. Patients who received palliative care consultation had a Charlson Comorbidity Index of 9.4 (plus or minus 3.3) versus 9.1 (plus or minus 3.5) for patients who did not.

Interoception, cardiac health, and heart failure: The potential for artificial intelligence (AI)-driven diagnosis and treatmentPhysiological Reports; Mahavir Singh, Anmol Babbarwal, Sathnur Pushpakumar, Suresh C Tyagi; 1/25"I see, I forget, I read aloud, I remember, and when I do read purposefully by writing it, I do not forget it." This phenomenon is known as "interoception" and refers to the sensing and interpretation of internal body signals, allowing the brain to communicate with various body systems. Dysfunction in interoception is associated with cardiovascular disorders. In the context of HF [heart failure], AI algorithms can analyze and interpret complex interoceptive data, providing valuable insights for diagnosis and treatment. By leveraging patient data, AI can personalize therapeutic interventions.

US dementia cases projected to double within 40 years Medscape Medical News; by Pauline Anderson; 1/13/25 The number of US adults who will develop dementia each year is projected to increase from approximately 514,000 in 2020 to about 1 million in 2060, new research shows. In addition, the lifetime risk of developing dementia after age 55 is estimated at 42%. The research showed that the relative growth in dementia cases is particularly pronounced for Black adults. These new findings researchers say, “highlight the urgent need for policies that enhance healthy aging, with a focus on health equity.”

Guidelines for evaluating, diagnosing, and disclosing dementia published by Alzheimer’s Association Practical Neurology; 1/14/25 The Diagnostic Evaluation, Testing, Counseling, and Disclosure Clinical Practice Guideline (DETeCD-ADRD CPG) Workgroup, convened and funded by the Alzheimer’s Association, has developed new recommendations for clinicians to use when evaluating patients with possible Alzheimer disease (AD) or AD and related dementias (ADRD). An executive summary of the recommendations for use in primary care and other practice settings was published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, along with a companion article summarizing specific guidance for specialists. The Workgroup included representatives from  primary, specialty, subspecialty, long-term, and palliative care disciplines as well as the fields of health economics and bioethics.  Editor's note: Click for open access to the Alzheimer's Association clinical practice guideline ..., executive summary of recommendations for primary care.