• Beatriz Farinha-Costa and Paulo Reis-Pina.
• Palliative Care Center, Faculty of Medicine (B.F.C., P.R.P.), University of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal.
• J Pain Symptom Manage. 2024 Nov 24.

ContextHome hospitalization (HHOSP) is an alternative care model aimed at alleviating pressure on healthcare systems and catering to the increasing patient population. It aligns with the preference for home-based palliative care (PALC) and end-of-life care.ObjectivesThis study systematically reviewed the literature to evaluate HHOSP's role in PALC, focusing on hospital readmissions, length of stay, patient and caregiver safety and satisfaction, place of death, and overall survival.MethodsA systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases from 2013 to 2023.Participantspatients of any age or gender diagnosed with advanced, metastatic, or incurable cancer or advanced dementia.InterventionHHOSP.Comparatorusual care.Outcomeshospital readmissions, length of stay, patient and caregiver safety and satisfaction, place of death, and overall survival. The risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane tools.ResultsSix studies with 843 participants from Denmark, France, Spain, and Israel were included. The overall risk of bias was moderate to high. HHOSP reduced hospital readmissions, with 42.2%-91% of patients avoiding further hospitalizations. Caregivers reported feeling safe and satisfied with HHOSP, experiencing reduced burden. Most patients died at home (52.2%-75%). Median overall survival ranged from 28 days-11.2 months.ConclusionThe findings highlight HHOSP's potential as an alternative for delivering PALC, reducing hospital readmissions, and improving patient and caregiver satisfaction. Despite heterogeneity in study designs and outcomes, HHOSP aligns with patient and caregiver preferences, enhancing the quality of end-of-life care. Further standardized research is needed to optimize HHOSP implementation.Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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