Recent Trends in Hospice Utilization according to Service Type and Region in South Korea

Background: This study assessed the trends in the use of hospice services and the average length of service utilization among patients with end-stage cancer in South Korea.Methods: Data from the National Hospice and Palliative Care registry and cause-ofdeath statistics from 2019 to 2023 were analyzed.The study population included patients with end-stage cancer as these individuals represent the vast majority of hospice users.The key variables were annual hospice utilization rates and the mean length of utilization.Trends were analyzed based on annual percentage changes using a log-linear regression model.Results: A total of 22,314 cancer patients received hospice care in 2023, primarily in an inpatient setting.Overall, hospice care utilization increased from 24.3% in 2019 to 26.2% in 2023, although no statistical significance was found for the overall trend.The number of patients receiving inpatient hospice services tended to decrease while those receiving home and consultation-based care tended to increase.The mean length of hospice care use was 28.1 days in 2023 and did not show significant differences during the study period.The age distribution shifted toward older aged patients, and regional patterns generally showed no substantial differences.Conclusion: This study comprehensively analyzed hospice utilization rates and lengths of stay across various characteristics, including service type and region.The hospice utilization rate increased slightly between 2019 and 2023; however, no significant differences emerged.Similar tendencies were found for length of stay.