Palliative care in patients with glioblastoma: A systematic review

TL;DR

This paper reviews how palliative care is used for glioblastoma patients to improve their quality of life and manage end-of-life care.

Contribution

A systematic review of palliative care approaches for glioblastoma patients, highlighting care settings and symptom management.

Findings

19 studies involving 7,392 patients were analyzed, showing palliative care includes chemotherapy, surgery, and supportive treatment.

Most patients with GBM die in hospitals, but care settings vary including hospice and homes.

Palliative care aims to reduce the burden on patients and families during end-of-life stages.

Abstract

The present study aimed to systematically review and analyze the available literature on patients with glioblastoma (GBM) receiving palliative care. A systemic literature review was thus conducted searching for patients with GBM receiving palliative care using the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Wiley and Web of Science. All articles relevant to the review were included, covering all age groups and types of palliative care used in all settings, and there was no time limit. A total of 234 studies were obtained from the search that matched the objectives of the review. A total of 19 articles were included, ranging from 1998 to 2022, with a total number of 7,392 patients. Supportive treatment was one approach to palliative and end-of-life care in patients with GBM; other approaches included chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy. The location of the mortality of patients with GBM differed between hospitals and health institutes, homes and hospice care. Out of 19 studies included, 10 of these reported hospitals to be the place of mortality. Patients with GBM have a poor prognosis, with a poor survival rate, even with the optimal treatment available. Moreover, multiple signs and symptoms can burden the end-of-life of patients and their families. Palliative care in these patients aims to relieve the burden of end-of-life care and improve the quality of life of the patients and their families.

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