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Elder Care News
New Research Finds Patients Do Live Longer Under
Hospice Care
Hospice patients lived an average 29 days longer
reports NHPCO
 March 25, 2007 A new study published in the March
2007 issue of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management reports that
hospice care may prolong the lives of some terminally ill patients.
Among the patient populations studied, the average survival was 29 days
longer for hospice patients than for non-hospice patients.
Sponsored by the National Hospice and Palliative
Care Organization, the study was conducted by NHPCO researchers in
collaboration with the highly regarded consulting and actuarial firm,
Milliman, Inc.
Theres an inaccurate perception among the
American public that hospice means youve given up, said J. Donald
Schumacher, NHPCO president and CEO.
Those of us who have worked in the field have seen
firsthand how hospice can improve the quality of and indeed prolong the
lives of people receiving care. Benefits of hospice have been reinforced
by positive stories like that of Art Buchwald who seemed to thrive under
the care of hospice."
Researchers selected 4,493 terminally ill patients
with either congestive heart failure (CHF) or cancer of the breast,
colon, lung, pancreas, or prostate. Longer lengths of survival were
found in four of the six disease categories studied.
The largest difference in survival between the
hospice and non-hospice cohorts was observed in CHF patients where the
mean survival period jumped from 321 days to 402 days.
The mean survival period also was significantly
longer for the hospice patients with lung cancer (39 days) and
pancreatic cancer (21 days), while marginally significant for colon
cancer (33 days).
Researchers cited several factors that may have
contributed to longer life among patients who chose hospice.
● First, patients who are already in a weakened
condition avoid the risks of over-treatment when they make the decision
to receive hospice care.
● Second, hospice care may improve the monitoring
and treatment patients receive.
● Additionally, hospice provides in-home care
from an interdisciplinary team focused on the emotional needs, spiritual
well-being, and physical health of the patient. Support and training for
family caregivers is provided as well. This may increase the patients
desire to continue living and may make them feel less of a burden to
family members.
There is a perception among some healthcare
providers that symptom relief in hospice, especially the use of opioids
and sedatives, could cause patients to die sooner than they would
otherwise. This study provides important information to suggest that
hospice is related to the longer, not shorter length of survival by
days or months in many patients, said Dr. Stephen Connor, NHPCOs
vice president of research and international development, and lead
author of the study.
This additional time may be valuable to patients
and families to give more time for resolution and closure.
Co-author Bruce Pyenson, an actuary at Milliman in
New York, added, We believe this study helps support the growing
quality movement within healthcare. For some patients, hospice care is
not a choice about cure, it is a choice for the best care.
More information about hospice and care at the end
of life is available online at
www.caringinfo.org or by calling the HelpLine at 800/658-8898. The
Spanish-language HelpLine, Cuidando con Cariρo, is 877/658-8896.
>>
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
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