Hospital service use in the last year of life by Indigenous Australians who died of heart failure or cardiomyopathy: A linked data study

Background

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience disproportionate rates of heart failure. However, information regarding their use of hospital services in the last year of life is poorly delineated to inform culturally appropriate end-of-life health services.

Objectives

To quantify hospital service use in the last year of life of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who died of heart failure or cardiomyopathy in Queensland, Australia.

Methods

A subgroup analysis of a larger retrospective linkage study using administrative health data in Queensland, Australia. Individuals that identified as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person from their first hospital admission in the last year of life, who died of heart failure or cardiomyopathy from 2008 to 2018, were included.

Results

There were 99 individuals, with emergency department presentation/s recorded for 85 individuals. Over 50% of individuals presenting to the Emergency Department were from regional areas (n = 43, 51%). The 99 individuals had a total of 472 hospital admissions, excluding same day admissions for haemodialysis, and 70% (n = 70) died in hospital. Most admissions were coded as acute care (n = 442, 94%), and fewer were coded as palliative care (n = 19, 4%). Median comorbidities or factors that led to hospital contact = 5 (interquartile range 3–9).

Conclusion

Acute care hospital admissions in the last year of life by this population are common for those who died of heart failure or cardiomyopathy. Multimorbidity is prevalent in the last year of life, underscoring the importance of primary health care, provided by nurses and Indigenous health workers.