ArticleJournal of general internal medicine2019
Older Medicare Beneficiaries Frequently Continue Medications with Limited Benefit Following Hospice Admission.
Article in Journal of general internal medicine, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed.
- The Development of a Framework to Classify Medication Deprescribing Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Primary Care Practices.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Approaches to deprescribing cardiovascular medications in patients receiving palliative care: a scoping review.Clinical hypertension · 2026Review
- Medications Reported to the Medicare Hospice Program after Medicare Drug Policy Changes, 2014-2018.Journal of pain and symptom management · 2025Article
- Patient and Family Participation in Medication Decisions on Discharge to Hospice Care.Journal of palliative medicine · 2022Article
- Prescribing practices, patterns, and potential harms in patients receiving palliative care: A systematic scoping review.Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy · 2021Article
- Methodological Challenges for Epidemiologic Studies of Deprescribing at the End of Life.Current epidemiology reports · 2021Article
- Cultural and Ethical Barriers to Cancer Treatment in Nursing Homes and Educational Strategies: A Scoping Review.Cancers · 2021Article
- Medication Use Quality and Safety in Older Adults: 2019 Update.Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · 2021Review
- Capsule Commentary on Zueger et al., Older Medicare Beneficiaries Frequently Continue Medications with Limited Benefit Following Hospice Admission.Journal of general internal medicine · 2019Article
- Capsule Commentary on Zueger et al., Older Medicare Beneficiaries Frequently Continue Medications with Limited Benefit Following Hospice Admission.Journal of general internal medicine · 2019Article
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6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe use of medications not relieving symptoms or maximizing quality of life should be minimized following hospice enrollment.
objectiveTo evaluate the frequency of and predictive factors for continuation of medications with limited benefit after hospice admission among those admitted for cancer- and non-cancer-related causes.
designCohort study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare linked database. PATIENTS: Medicare Part D-enrolled beneficiaries 66 years and older who were admitted to and died under hospice care between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2013 (N = 70,035). MAIN MEASURES: Patients were followed from hospice enrollment through death for Part D dispensing of limited benefit medications (LBMs) they had used in the 6 months prior to hospice admission, including anti-hyperlipidemics, anti-hypertensives, oral anti-diabetics, anti-platelets, anti-dementia medications, anti-osteoporotic medications, and proton pump inhibitors. The proportion of patients continuing an LBM after hospice admission was evaluated. Adjusted relative risks (RRs) were estimated for factors associated with LBM continuation. KEY
resultsOverall, 29.8% and 30.5% of patients admitted to hospice for a cancer- and non-cancer-related cause, respectively, continued at least one LBM after hospice admission. Anti-dementia medications were continued most frequently (29.3%) while anti-osteoporotic medications were continued least often (14.1%). Compared to home hospice, LBM continuation was greater in hospice patients residing in skilled nursing (RR 1.25, 95% CI 1.20-1.29), non-skilled nursing (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.25-1.32), and assisted living facilities (RR 1.28, 95% CI 1.24-1.32). Patients with hospice stays ≥ 180 days were more likely to continue at least one LBM compared to those with stays of 1 week or less (RR 13.11, 95% CI 12.25-14.02).
conclusionsA substantial proportion of Medicare hospice beneficiaries continued to receive LBMs following hospice enrollment. Providers should evaluate the necessity of continuing non-palliative medications at the end of life through a careful, patient-centric consideration of their potential risks and benefits.
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