BACKGROUND
Little information is available on the long‐term use of post‐acute care among older patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), relative to individuals without cancer. This study examines the use of post‐acute care among older cancer survivors (>65 y) with CRC and compares it with noncancer patients up to 5 years from surgery.
DESIGN
Retrospective cohort.
SETTING
SEER‐Medicare.
PARTICIPANTS
Patients treated for stage I to III CRC between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2011 (n = 40 812) and noncancer Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized for noncancer treatment matching on age, sex, race, comorbidity, and Medicaid dual eligibility.
MEASUREMENTS
Incident post‐acute care claims (skilled nursing, long‐term care facility, and home health) from 0 to 100 days, 101 to 365 days, and 1 to 5 years from hospitalization.
RESULTS
The median age was 77 years. All patients had surgery, 34% received chemotherapy, and 27% received surgery and adjuvant therapy. The cumulative incidence of any post‐acute care within 100 days of hospitalization was 45.7% for stage III, 37.9% for stage I/II, and 39% for controls (p < .001). Within the CRC cohort only, the cumulative incidence of post‐acute care was 2.9% (stage I/II) and 4.2% (stage III, p < .001) from 101 to 365 days and 15.8% (stage I/II) and 16.9% (stage III, p < .001) from 1 to 5 years. Increasing age, ostomies, and neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy were associated with increased hazard of all post‐acute patients within 100 days from hospitalization. From 1 to 5 years from diagnosis, adjuvant therapy was associated with greater exclusive home health care use.
CONCLUSIONS
Survivorship planning among older CRC patients should include discussions of post‐acute care following cancer therapy, even several years after treatment. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:937–944, 2019.