• David Russell, Eli L Diamond, Bonnie Lauder, Ritchell R Dignam, Dawn W Dowding, Timothy R Peng, Holly G Prigerson, and Kathryn H Bowles.
• Center for Home Care Policy & Research, Visiting Nurse Service of New York, New York City, New York.
• J Am Geriatr Soc. 2017 Aug 1; 65 (8): 1726-1732.

ObjectivesTo report frequencies and associated risk factors for 4 distinct causes of live discharge from hospice.DesignRetrospective cohort study using electronic medical records of hospice patients who received care from a large urban not-for-profit hospice agency in New York City during a 3-year period between 2013 and 2015 (n = 9,190).ResultsRoughly one in five hospice patients were discharged alive (21%; n = 1911). Acute hospitalization was the most frequent reason for live discharge (42% of all live discharges; n = 802). Additional reasons included elective revocation to resume disease-directed treatments (18%; n = 343), disqualification (14%; n = 271), and service transfers or moves (26%; n = 495). Multinomial logistic regression analyses revealed that risk for acute hospitalization was higher among younger patients (age AOR = 0.98 [95% CI = 0.98-0.99] P < .01), racial/ethnic minorities (Hispanic AOR = 2.23 [CI = 1.82-2.73] P < .001; African American OR = 2.46 [CI = 2.00-3.03] P < .001; Asian/other OR = 1.63 [CI = 1.25-2.11] P < .001), and patients without advance directives (AOR = 1.41 [95% CI = 0.98-0.99] P < .001). Disqualification occurred much more frequently among patients with non-cancer diagnoses, including dementia (AOR = 13.14 [95% CI = 7.96-21.61] P < .001) and pulmonary disease (AOR = 11.68 [95% CI = 6.58-20.74] P < .001). Transfers and service moves were more common among Hispanics (AOR = 1.56 [95% CI = 1.45-2.34] P < .001), African Americans (AOR = 1.35 [95% CI = 1.03-1.79] P < .05), patients without a primary caregiver (AOR = 1.35 [95% CI = 1.09-1.67] P < .001), and those without advance directives (AOR = 1.30 [95% CI = 1.07-1.58] P < .01).ConclusionFurther research into factors that underlie live discharge events, especially acute hospitalization, is warranted given their cost and burden for patients/families. Hospices should develop strategies to address acute medical crises and thoroughly evaluate patients' suitability, unmet needs, and knowledge about end-of-life issues at the time of hospice enrollment, especially for those with non-cancer diagnoses.© 2017, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2017, The American Geriatrics Society.

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