Epidemiology and palliative care of in-patient cerebral metastases cases in Germany.

INTRODUCTION

Cerebral metastases (CM) are the most common intracranial neoplasms, significantly impacting patient quality-of-life. Despite advancements in diagnostics and therapeutics, the burden remains high. This study evaluates inpatient management, palliative care use, and mortality outcomes for CM patients in German hospitals in 2022.

METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 71,787 inpatient cases involving adult CM and leptomeningeal malignancies patients in German hospitals in 2022. Data submitted by hospitals according to §21 of the Hospital Remuneration Act were analyzed, focusing on demographic data, primary tumor types, treatment methods, participation in palliative care, and discharge outcomes.

RESULTS

Among the 71,787 cases, 53.4% were patients aged 65 years or older. Malignant lung tumors were present in 61.6% of cases, followed by breast malignancies (12%) and malignant melanoma and diffuse diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (each 6.4%). Specialized inpatient palliative care (SIPC) was provided in 14.8% (10,636 cases), with 85.2% not receiving such care. Hospital mortality was 13.1% (9413 cases), with 42.2% of these involving patients who received SIPC. Discharge outcomes included discharge home (72.7%), transfers to other hospitals (7.1%), rehabilitation facilities (0.4%), nursing facilities (2%), and hospices (2.4%).

CONCLUSION

Despite treatment advances, high mortality rates for CM patients persist, underscoring the need for palliative care integration and comprehensive training to enhance patient outcomes. Health care planning is a growing topic, our study establishes a benchmark for CM care in German hospitals, revealing a significant number of patients not receiving SIPC. This research can inform future healthcare strategies in neuro-oncology.