Key result
Discharge hospice referral was associated with a lower rate of 30-day all-cause readmission compared to no referral among hospitalized heart failure patients (5% vs 41%; HR 0.12; 95% CI 0.06-0.24).
Why the study?
Does discharge hospice referral reduce 30-day all-cause readmission in Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized for heart failure?
Population
8,032 Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized for heart failure in 106 Alabama hospitals. The propensity-matched…
Comparison
Discharge hospice referral vs No discharge hospice referral, matched using…
Design
Cohort
Follow-up
30 days to 6 months
Authors
Loading...
Hospice referral may aid HF discharge planning; leaves open whether randomized trials would confirm readmission benefit.
Cohort (n=8,032)
Yes
Does discharge hospice referral reduce 30-day all-cause readmission in Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized for heart failure?
Hazard Ratio: 0.12 (95% CI 0.06–0.24)
Absolute Event Rate: 5% vs 41%
Discharge hospice referral for eligible heart failure patients is associated with a markedly lower risk of 30-day all-cause readmission, though it remains significantly underutilized.
Kheirbek et al. (2015) conducted a cohort in Heart failure (n=8,032). Discharge hospice referral vs. No hospice referral (hospice-eligible) was evaluated on 30-day all-cause readmission (HR 0.12, 95% CI 0.06-0.24). Discharge hospice referral was associated with a lower rate of 30-day all-cause readmission compared to no referral among hospitalized heart failure patients (5% vs 41%; HR 0.12; 95% CI 0.06-0.24).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: