Table 2.
Comparison of the aggressiveness of EOL care and cost between the HC and non-HC groups in the LML
| Variables | Total | Non-HC group | HC group | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number, n (%) | 2121 | 1909(90%) | 212(10%) | |
| ICU admission | 308(14.5%) | 174(9.1%) | 134(62.9%) | <0.001 |
| Intubation | 252(11.9%) | 168(8.8%) | 84(39.4%) | <0.001 |
| Mechanical ventilation | 308(14.5%) | 194(10.2%) | 114(53.5%) | <0.001 |
| Admission days | 10.7 ± 10.9 | 9.1 ± 10.1 | 25.0 ± 6.1 | <0.001 |
| Admission times | 0.8 ± 0.7 | 0.8 ± 0.8 | 1.2 ± 0.4 | <0.001 |
| ER visit (times) | 0.7 ± 1.1 | 0.7 ± 1.1 | 0.7 ± 0.9 | 0.694 |
| Receiving anti-cancer therapy as below | 155(7.3%) | 108(5.7%) | 47(22.1%) | <0.001 |
| TACE | 75(3.5%) | 56(2.9%) | 19(8.9%) | <0.001 |
| Radiotherapy | 57(2.7%) | 34(1.8%) | 23(10.8%) | <0.001 |
| Chemotherapy | 15(0.7%) | 14(0.7%) | 1(0.5%) | 1 |
| HAIC | 14(0.7%) | 11(0.6%) | 3(1.4%) | 0.159 |
| PEI | 5(0.2%) | 3(0.2%) | 2(0.9%) | 0.082 |
| RFA | 7(0.3%) | 6(0.3%) | 1(0.5%) | 0.524 |
| Hospice care (yes) | 405(19.1%) | 380(19.9%) | 25(11.7%) | 0.003 |
| Death in a hospital | 821(38.7%) | 679(35.6%) | 142(66.7%) | <0.001 |
| Cost (US dollars) | 2073 ± 2667 | 1407 ± 1464 | 8042 ± 3477 | <0.001 |
Abbreviations: ICU intensive care unit, ER emergency room, TACE transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, HAIC hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy, PEI percutaneous ethanol injection, RFA radiofrequency ablation