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[Changes in mortality in the Reims University Hospital Dermatology Department (1996-2009)]
J Journet-Tollhupp1, F Grange, P Bernard
1Service de dermatologie, hôpital Robert-Debré, CHU de Reims, avenue du Général-Koenig, 51092 Reims cedex, France. julie.tollhupp@wanadoo.fr
Background:
End-of-life care is becoming a daily concern of French dermatology departments. The aim of this single-centre retrospective study was to assess changes in mortality and end-of-life care in a university dermatology department over a 14-year period.
Patients And Methods:
The medical records of all patients dying in our dermatology department from 1996 to 2009 were studied retrospectively. A descriptive analysis was performed together with a comparison between the two periods demarcated by the institution of the French National Cancer Plan at the end of 2002.
Results:
The number of patients dying in the department rose by 33% from 108 for period 1 (1996-2002) to 144 for period 2 (2003-2009). The majority of patients presented metastatic melanoma, with doubling of numbers between the two periods. During period 2, 40 % of patients were managed in collaboration with the mobile palliative care team.
Conclusion:
This study shows an increase in the number of deaths in a French university hospital dermatology department over the 14-year period in question, ascribable mainly to an increase in the number of patients receiving end-of-life care for metastatic melanoma. Significant changes were noted in the management of these patients with an increase in palliative care procedures.
