Camilla Lykke, Birgit Jurlander, Per Sjøgren, Geana Paula Kurita, Ann-Dorthe Zwisler, Lene Vibe Høyer, Niels Tønder, Sille Larsen, Inge Eidemak, Ola Ekholm
{"title":"Caregivers' impact in heart failure: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Camilla Lykke, Birgit Jurlander, Per Sjøgren, Geana Paula Kurita, Ann-Dorthe Zwisler, Lene Vibe Høyer, Niels Tønder, Sille Larsen, Inge Eidemak, Ola Ekholm","doi":"10.1136/spcare-2024-005262","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/spcare-2024-005262","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Caregivers play a pivotal role in supporting patients with heart failure (HF). Caregiving may be associated with significant impact on the caregivers' health. This study aimed at exploring the impact of caregiving in relation to self-rated health, anxiety and depression compared with the general Danish population.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted with caregivers of adult patients with HF New York Heart Association (NYHA) II, III and IV from the Department of Cardiology at the North Zealand Hospital in Denmark. Patients with HF were asked to indicate the caregiver ≥18 years to participate. Assessment of caregivers included the Zarit Burden Interview, Patient Health Questionnaire-4 and the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 127 included caregivers, 119 completed the questionnaire (96 women). The mean age was 67 years (range 28-87 years). Overall, 31% of caregivers found caregiving burdensome. The heaviest burden was found in caregivers of patients with the highest symptom burden and NYHA class (p=0.005). Caregivers had 1.63 (95% CI: 1.00 to 2.66) times higher odds of reporting signs of anxiety than individuals in the general population. However, caregivers had 1.88 (95% CI: 1.09 to 3.25) times higher odds of rating their health as good than the general Danish population.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our finding of a higher proportion of caregivers reporting good health compared with the general population is in keeping with other recent studies. However, educational and supportive interventions supporting caregivers in providing care while maintaining their own health should still be considered.</p>","PeriodicalId":9136,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143977125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sruthi Ranganathan, Alessandro Hammond, Urvish Jain, Khushi Kohli, Nishwant Swami, Tej A Patel, Erin Jay G Feliciano, Paul L Nguyen, Kenrick Ng, Edward Christopher Dee, Bhav Jain
{"title":"Palliative treatment disparities in metastatic colon cancer: US retrospective cohort study with disaggregated ethnic groups.","authors":"Sruthi Ranganathan, Alessandro Hammond, Urvish Jain, Khushi Kohli, Nishwant Swami, Tej A Patel, Erin Jay G Feliciano, Paul L Nguyen, Kenrick Ng, Edward Christopher Dee, Bhav Jain","doi":"10.1136/spcare-2025-005478","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/spcare-2025-005478","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Palliative care is important in addressing the needs of patients and their caregivers holistically, particularly where patients are diagnosed with an advanced cancer such as metastatic colon cancer. Racial or ethnic disparities in the receipt of palliative treatment have not been well studied.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data from the National Cancer Database were used to identify patients with metastatic colon cancer. Patients were categorised into one of the following racial or ethnic groups: White, Black, Southeast Asian, East Asian, South Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (NHPI), other Asian and American Indian, Aleutian or Eskimo. The dependent variable was the receipt of palliative treatment, while the independent variable was the patients' racial or ethnic group. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to derive the adjusted ORs (AOR) and p values.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Relative to White patients, patients who identified as Black, Southeast Asian or other Asian were less likely to receive palliative treatment (Black AOR=0.944, 95% CI 0.905 to 0.985, p=0.008; Southeast Asians AOR=0.678, 95% CI 0.553 to 0.830, p<0.001; other Asian AOR=0.781, 95% CI 0.637 to 0.957, p=0.017). However, NHPI patients had greater odds of receiving palliative treatment (NHPI AOR=1.696, 95% CI 1.267 to 2.271, p<0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Black, Southeast Asian or other Asian patients had decreased odds of receiving palliative treatment, while NHPI patients had greater odds of receiving palliative treatment, compared with White patients. Further studies are needed to disaggregate reasons behind these disparities in the receipt of palliative treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":9136,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143965966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Catherine E Mosher, Ashley B Lewson, Miriam Austin-Wright, Marianne S Matthias, Paul R Helft, Anita A Turk, Patrick J Loehrer, Amikar Sehdev, Ahmad A Al-Hader, Shelley A Johns
{"title":"Acceptance and commitment therapy in metastatic gastrointestinal cancer: patient and caregiver qualitative study.","authors":"Catherine E Mosher, Ashley B Lewson, Miriam Austin-Wright, Marianne S Matthias, Paul R Helft, Anita A Turk, Patrick J Loehrer, Amikar Sehdev, Ahmad A Al-Hader, Shelley A Johns","doi":"10.1136/spcare-2025-005548","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/spcare-2025-005548","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a promising behavioural intervention to improve quality of life in patients with advanced cancer and their family caregivers. Little qualitative research has examined the effects of ACT in cancer populations. Thus, this qualitative study examined the perceived impact of ACT, including mindfulness practice and values-based action, on patients with advanced gastrointestinal (GI) cancer and their family caregivers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Individual, semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted with 13 patients with stage IV GI cancer and 14 family caregivers following their participation in a six-session ACT intervention. Data were analysed using an immersion/crystallisation approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most participants identified benefits of ACT that facilitated their adjustment to cancer or caregiving. Patients and caregivers described several effects of mindfulness, including improved management of fatigue and other symptoms, improved emotion regulation skills and an ability to savour the present moment. Some participants reported misperceptions of the purpose of mindfulness, such as emptying the mind of thoughts or relaxing. In addition, engaging in actions based on personal values often led to patient empowerment (eg, renewed sense of purpose in life), improved caregiver self-care and better relationship quality between patients and caregivers.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Results raise hypotheses about potential mechanisms and outcomes of ACT interventions that warrant examination. Findings also suggest that enhancing education on mindfulness in ACT interventions may reduce conceptual misunderstandings. Finally, results suggest that a dyadic ACT intervention may improve relationship functioning between family members.</p>","PeriodicalId":9136,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143974501","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mariagrazia Baroni, Giorgos Tsiris, Annamaria Marzi, Nicola Barbero, Anna Guido, Claudia Murachelli, Tommaso Marvulli, Maria Cristina Nosenzo, Elena Scamuzzi, Filippo Giordano
{"title":"Music therapy in adult hospices: a national multicentre survey.","authors":"Mariagrazia Baroni, Giorgos Tsiris, Annamaria Marzi, Nicola Barbero, Anna Guido, Claudia Murachelli, Tommaso Marvulli, Maria Cristina Nosenzo, Elena Scamuzzi, Filippo Giordano","doi":"10.1136/spcare-2025-005418","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/spcare-2025-005418","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In recent years, there has been an increased demand for non-pharmacological, complementary therapies and psychosocial provisions in hospices, aimed at creating spaces for communication and personalised expression in response to the bio-psycho-socio-existential needs of patients and their caregivers. As a contemporary evidence-based professional practice, music therapy is an integral part of multidisciplinary teams in many palliative care settings internationally. In Italy, however, music therapy is a developing area of practice facing certain challenges around professionalisation, funding and service development. This study seeks to explore the current state of music therapy in Italian hospices.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>From January 2024 to March 2024, an online survey was disseminated to 213 hospices across Italy. The survey consisted of 10 closed-ended questions. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A 73.7% completion rate was achieved. Music-based interventions are provided in 49.6% of hospices (n=62), and 43.5% of these offer a music therapy service led by a qualified music therapist. Most hospices (n=17) offer music therapy sessions for 3 hours per week. Across all hospices, sessions are primarily individual and take place in patients' rooms. The presence of caregivers varies, and patients are referred to music therapy by different professionals in the team. Information was gathered regarding the use of music therapy during sedation and for bereavement support of caregivers, along with details on assessment tools used.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study offers an initial overview of music therapy in hospices across Italy and highlights critical questions regarding team integration, training standards, evaluation and funding.</p>","PeriodicalId":9136,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143974887","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bridget H Highet, Kristin Cushenbery, Swapna Sarangi, Anek Jena, Himanshi Banker, Molly Kilpatrick, Maisha Robinson, Pramod K Guru
{"title":"Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support: palliative care integration - patient experience and quality of life.","authors":"Bridget H Highet, Kristin Cushenbery, Swapna Sarangi, Anek Jena, Himanshi Banker, Molly Kilpatrick, Maisha Robinson, Pramod K Guru","doi":"10.1136/spcare-2025-005503","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/spcare-2025-005503","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The pattern and timing of palliative care utilisation and end-of-life characteristics in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)-supported patients remain underused. We wanted to share our centre's experience.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is an institutional review board-approved retrospective study of 45 patients who underwent ECMO at a large ECMO centre in North America between January 2013 and July 2018.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Only 28.9% of the ECMO patients received in-hospital palliative care consultation at a median of 18 days (IQR 12-31) after hospitalisation and 10.5 days (IQR 1-28) from ECMO initiation. 1-year mortality was high, with 44% dying during hospitalisation and an additional 13% within the following year. Patients experienced prolonged hospitalisations (median hospital length of stay: 39 days, IQR 19-89) and exhibited high rates of tracheostomy (53%) and renal replacement therapy (60%). Most end-of-life cases involved the withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy during ECMO, yet only 53% had a completed living will.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study underscores the need for early initiation of palliative care consultation to enhance symptom management, advance care planning, caregiver support and quality of life for ECMO patients and their families.</p>","PeriodicalId":9136,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143979066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Liesbeth M van Vliet, Jonathan Koffman, Eve Namisango, Diah Martina, Daniela Gidaly, Martin Loucka, Anthony L Back, Lucy E Selman, Judith Ac Rietjens, Nicole Plum, Erica Borgstrom, Natashe Lemos Dekker, Sabrina Bajwah, Dwai Banerjee, M A de Meij, Masanori Mori, Fiona Brosig, Justin J Sanders, Annemarie Samuels
{"title":"Information provision in life-threatening illnesses: comprehensive framework.","authors":"Liesbeth M van Vliet, Jonathan Koffman, Eve Namisango, Diah Martina, Daniela Gidaly, Martin Loucka, Anthony L Back, Lucy E Selman, Judith Ac Rietjens, Nicole Plum, Erica Borgstrom, Natashe Lemos Dekker, Sabrina Bajwah, Dwai Banerjee, M A de Meij, Masanori Mori, Fiona Brosig, Justin J Sanders, Annemarie Samuels","doi":"10.1136/spcare-2024-005207","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/spcare-2024-005207","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In life-threatening illnesses, open information provision can benefit patients and families. However, not all patients prefer to have all information. There is a lack of clinical guidance on how to handle patient preferences for non-disclosure.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To develop a conceptual framework and practical guidance for clinicians regarding the spectrum of patients' information provision preferences with a focus on when patients do not desire to have full information.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Multidisciplinary expert stakeholder meeting.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>20 expert stakeholders from various disciplines and continents participated in the expert meeting. Based on the qualitative results, a conceptual framework was created. Our framework highlights that information is never value-free but attains value via healthcare provider and patient/family factors, including how information is interpreted by clinicians and patients/families. In this process, ethical and sociocultural tensions can arise, such as between patient and family autonomy, that can influence harmful effects of the attained value of information along several axes such as empowerment versus disempowerment. To mitigate tensions and minimise harm, our framework produces practical guidance for clinicians such as making a connection and having an open attitude.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our framework has clinical, research and policy implications and can be further refined and tested. Ultimately, it serves as a starting point to reduce social and cultural inequities in end-of-life care information in a global context.</p>","PeriodicalId":9136,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143971254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Occupational therapy-led self-management anxiety and stress programme: a mixed methods evaluation in community palliative medicine.","authors":"Lauren Boland, Niamh Donnelly, Sarah Delaney, Julie Donohoe, Niamh Keaveny, Hayley Connolly, Deirdre Connolly","doi":"10.1136/spcare-2024-005314","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/spcare-2024-005314","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>A key role of specialist palliative care occupational therapy is to enable patients to self-manage symptoms associated with a life-limiting illness. EMPOWER, a 4-week group programme, provides self-management interventions for stress and anxiety. The aim of this study is to evaluate the EMPOWER programme for community-based specialist palliative care patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An action research feasibility study employing a mixed methods approach was undertaken. Self-reporting outcome measures were administered pre-EMPOWER and post-EMPOWER. Qualitative focus groups and feedback forms were completed postintervention. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of the service site.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Six virtual and five inperson EMPOWER group programmes were facilitated with 33 participants. Twenty-five participants completed the preoutcome and postoutcome measures. Statistically significant improvements in anxiety (p=0.002), occupational performance (p=0.003) and satisfaction (p<0.001) were observed from preintervention to postintervention. Qualitative data analysis identified three main themes: (1) living with symptoms, (2) management of symptoms and (3) programme design and delivery.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>EMPOWER is considered an acceptable intervention by community-based palliative care patients. Improved understanding of self-management skills to manage anxiety encouraged participants to implement strategies and re-engage in meaningful goals. Recommendations were provided on the programme's design. Further research is required to evaluate the effectiveness of EMPOWER in a larger group of community-based palliative care patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":9136,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144062012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Grace Kennedy, Niall Manktelow, Ita Harnett, Camilla Murtagh
{"title":"Crisis pack prescribing in terminal haemorrhage: a national survey of specialist palliative medicine physicians.","authors":"Grace Kennedy, Niall Manktelow, Ita Harnett, Camilla Murtagh","doi":"10.1136/spcare-2025-005370","DOIUrl":"10.1136/spcare-2025-005370","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To establish practice among senior palliative medicine physicians regarding anticipatory prescribing to manage a terminal haemorrhage.To generate a guideline informed by data collected.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An electronic questionnaire was sent to palliative medicine consultants and specialist registrars in Ireland.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The response rate was 50%. All respondents (100%) prescribe crisis packs. The most prescribed medications were morphine and midazolam. Over 95% prescribe medication via the subcutaneous route. Regarding indications for prescribing, about two-thirds of respondents would prescribe for a patient with a head and neck malignancy. Almost two-thirds of respondents do not follow any policy or guideline. The main area of variation is in the dose prescribed for those already on a scheduled opioid and/or benzodiazepine.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The proposed guideline is based on the expert opinion of questionnaire respondents. The recommended medications, route of prescription and broad indications for prescribing included in the guideline were based on a clear consensus. Most respondents vary the dose of crisis medication prescribed based on whether the patient is on a baseline anxiolytic/opioid. As the calculations used for dose variation were not consistent between respondents, the most reported calculation, 1/6 of 24-hour dose, is recommended in the guideline.</p>","PeriodicalId":9136,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143555908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Medical communication at end-of-life in palliative care units: nationwide bereavement family survey.","authors":"Isseki Maeda, Masako Shirasaka, Tatsuya Morita, Yoshiyuki Kizawa, Satoru Tsuneto, Yasuo Shima, Kento Masukawa, Mitsunori Miyashita","doi":"10.1136/spcare-2025-005530","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/spcare-2025-005530","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Communicating prognosis and changes in a patient's condition is essential in patient-centred care. However, little is known about how families experience medical communication during the dying phase. This study aimed to evaluate family members' satisfaction with such communication, identify factors associated with dissatisfaction and explore preferred approaches by healthcare professionals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A nationwide survey was conducted among bereaved family members of cancer patients who had died in inpatient palliative care units in Japan. The survey collected data on family characteristics, prebereavement conditions and satisfaction with medical communication during the dying phase, rated on a 3-point scale. Preferences regarding healthcare professionals' communication styles and the timing of postdeath discussions were also assessed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 527 respondents (response rate: 53%), only 8% reported dissatisfaction with medical communication. Factors associated with dissatisfaction included older age, female sex, poor mental health and higher household income. Families favoured clear and direct communication over indirect approaches and valued receiving information from both physicians and nurses.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>While most bereaved families were satisfied with medical communication, certain factors contributed to dissatisfaction. Enhancing end-of-life care requires collaboration between physicians and nurses to provide clear information, emotional support and tailored, patient-centred communication.</p>","PeriodicalId":9136,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143958413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ahmed Sami Raihane, Muhammad Ahmad Nadeem, Ahsan Raza Raja, Arlin A Bustillos, Abdul Rafeh Awan, Mohammed A Quazi, Jibran Ikram, Abdullah Khan, Asad Ullah, Marjan Khan, Abu Baker Sheikh, Amir Humza Sohail
{"title":"Shifting US location patterns in leukaemia mortality: retrospective analysis.","authors":"Ahmed Sami Raihane, Muhammad Ahmad Nadeem, Ahsan Raza Raja, Arlin A Bustillos, Abdul Rafeh Awan, Mohammed A Quazi, Jibran Ikram, Abdullah Khan, Asad Ullah, Marjan Khan, Abu Baker Sheikh, Amir Humza Sohail","doi":"10.1136/spcare-2025-005520","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/spcare-2025-005520","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Leukaemia is a haematological malignancy with high mortality, yet end-of-life care patterns remain underexplored. This study analysed trends in the place of death among leukaemia decedents and assessed demographic disparities in end-of-life care.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective observational study was conducted using the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention's WONDER and National Center for Health Statistics mortality databases (2008-2020). Leukaemia deaths were identified from death certificates, and place of death was categorised as hospice, home, inpatient, nursing home or outpatient/emergency room. Temporal trends were analysed using the Mann-Kendall test, and logistic regression assessed associations between place of death and demographics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 295 057 leukaemia-related deaths, inpatient deaths declined from 51% to 37% (τ=-0.872, p<0.001), while home deaths increased from 26% to 40% (τ=0.897, p<0.001). Hospice deaths nearly doubled from 5% to 9% (τ=0.692, p=0.001), and nursing home deaths declined from 11% to 8% (τ=-0.795, p<0.001). No significant trend was observed for outpatient/emergency room deaths. Younger adults (20-34 years) had the highest inpatient death rate (74%), decreasing with age, while home and hospice deaths increased among older adults. Racial disparities were evident, with non-Hispanic black, Hispanic and Asian patients more likely to die in hospitals and less likely to use hospice care than non-Hispanic whites.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Leukaemia-related deaths have increasingly shifted from hospitals to home and hospice, reflecting broader palliative care trends. However, racial disparities persist, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve equitable access to hospice and home-based palliative care.</p>","PeriodicalId":9136,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143954119","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}