Patterns of Hospice Use in Patients Dying from Hematologic Malignancies

Abstract Background: Hospice brings substantial clinical benefits to dying patients and families but is underutilized by patients dying of hematologic malignancies (HM); nationwide, only 2% of HM patients use hospice. There are 70,000 deaths among U.S. patients with hematologic malignancies yearly. Objective: We measured the use and length of stay (LOS) in hospice among patients with HMs at a large academic cancer center. Design: This was a single center retrospective review of adult patients (≥18 years) with lymphoma, leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, aplastic anemia, and multiple myeloma referred for hospice. Measurements: Information included demographics, transplant, hospice type, LOS, and use of “expanded access” services. Results: Fifty-nine patients were referred to hospice, and 53 utilized hospice services, 25% of 209 HM decedents. Thirty-five received home hospice and 18 used inpatient hospice. The median home hospice LOS was nine days (SD 13) and inpatient hospice six days (SD 10). Nine patien...