A recent nationwide analysis presented at the 2023 ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition, titled “Disparities in Palliative Care Utilization in Deceased Lymphoma Patients,” delves into the characteristics and utilization patterns of palliative care in a large-scale representative population-based sample spanning January 2016-December 2019. The retrospective study, using data from the National Inpatient Sample, aimed to shed light on the impact of palliative care on health care utilization, specifically focusing on discounted hospital charges and length of stay.

The study identified 10,323 deceased lymphoma patients, with 52.9% (n = 5,464) receiving palliative care during their hospital stay. Multivariate linear regression analysis with data stratification based on age, race, Charlson comorbidity index, insurance status, median household income, and hospital characteristics revealed that the group receiving palliative care experienced significantly lower total charges, indicating potential cost-saving benefits with a mean decrease of $24,269 (95% CI: $37,263 to $11,277, p < 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the adjusted length of stay between patients who received palliative care and those who did not (coefficient = -0.07 days, 95% CI = -0.69 to 0.54, p = .806).

Furthermore, the study unveiled disparities in palliative care access, with Black and Hispanic patients having lower odds of receiving such care. Hospital characteristics played a role, as patients admitted to larger and urban teaching hospitals had higher odds of receiving palliative care. Additionally, patients with Medicare insurance demonstrated the lowest probability of receiving palliative care compared to other insurance groups.

These findings underscore the importance of integrating palliative care into the treatment approach for lymphoma patients as a potential strategy to optimize health care utilization and improve patient outcomes. The study emphasizes the necessity for further research and implementation efforts to improve access and enhance the delivery of palliative care for lymphoma patients.

Patel R, Patel D, Patel Z, et al. Disparities in Palliative Care Utilization in Deceased Lymphoma Patients: A Nationwide Analysis. Presented at: the 2023 ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition; December 9-12, 2023; San Diego, CA, and virtual; Abstract 131.