Hospice use by cause of death: A cohort study using Utah population database

Hospice use by cause of death: A cohort study using Utah population database 
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - Sage Journals; by Rebecca L. Utz, PhD, Michael Hollingshaus, PhD, Attrayee Bandyopadhyay, MS, Kathie Supiano, PhD, Margaret Clayton, PhD, Katherine A. Ornstein, PhD, Djin Tay, PhD, Eli Iacob, Ken Smith, PhD, and Caroline Stephens, PhD; first published online 4/29/25 
Illnesses such as cancer often follow a predictable trajectory of decline, while others, such as Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), follow a more dwindling and protracted decline. ... This study assesses whether hospice use differs by the underlying cause of death and whether current hospice eligibility and practices provide optimal EOL to all causes of death.
Major Findings: Non-cancer decedents were more likely to have sub-optimal patterns of hospice care, including minimal use, lasting less than a week, and extended use, lasting more than 6 months. Stroke decedents were the most likely to have minimal-use patterns of hospice, whereas dementia and COPD decedents were most likely to have extended use.
Conclusion: New models of hospice-like EOL care that can accommodate both short-term and long-term palliative care needs may help meet the diverse needs of patients and families facing different EOL trajectories associated with common causes of death.
Editor's note: Compare this with your data of disease-related Length of Stay (LOS), live discharges, disease-related acuity needs, and more. How can we improve disease-related patient care, across patients' different trajectories of palliative/hospice care?