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Palliative Care for Very Old Patients: A Three-Year Single-Center Retrospective Study
Makie Kohno1, Ai Takeda1, Sayaka Ishimaru1
1Department of Palliative Care, Ashiya Municipal Hospital, Ashiya, Japan.
Journal of Palliative Medicine
|July 20, 2026
Summary
Palliative care for nonagenarians with advanced cancer reveals frequent dementia and non-pain symptoms. Structured assessment of all symptoms is crucial for this growing population.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric oncology
- Palliative medicine
- Clinical epidemiology
Background:
- Nonagenarians with advanced cancer are an understudied group in specialist palliative care.
- This population is growing, necessitating further research into their unique needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize clinical features, symptoms, interventions, and outcomes of nonagenarian patients in a Japanese palliative care unit.
- To inform tailored care strategies for elderly cancer patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective descriptive case series over three years (April 2020 - March 2023).
- Analysis of 71 nonagenarian patients admitted to a specialist palliative care unit.
- Data extracted included demographics, comorbidities, symptoms, treatments, and outcomes.
Main Results:
- High prevalence of comorbidities (95.8%) and dementia (56.3%) was observed.
- Fatigue and anorexia were the most common presenting symptoms; pain was less frequent (2.8%).
- Delirium affected 31.0% of patients, with 93.0% dying in the unit.
Conclusions:
- Nonagenarian palliative care patients often present with dementia and non-pain symptoms.
- Specialist palliative care requires structured assessment for both pain and non-pain symptoms in this age group.
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