Utilization of Hospice Care in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background:A significant percentage of terminally ill patients are discharged to hospice care following a devastating stroke.Objective:We sought to determine the factors associated with hospital discharge to hospice care in a large cohort of patients with stroke.Methods:Using the institutional Get With The Guidelines-Stroke database, all consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) who were alive at discharge, from January 2009 until July 2015, were analyzed. Univariate and multivariable statistical analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with discharge to hospice care.Results:Of 2446 patients with AIS, 3.4% died and were excluded of remaining 2363 patients, and 4.2% were discharged to hospice care. Univariate analysis identified patients who were discharged to hospice care to be older, caucasian, Medicare or private insurance, have atrial fibrillation, heart failure and less often had diabetes mellitus or smoked. Altered mentation at presentation and urinary tract infection w...