End-of-Life Healthcare Utilization in Lewy Body Dementia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lewy body dementia (LBD) is the second most common neurodegenerative dementia in the US, presenting unique end-of-life challenges.

Objective

This study examined healthcare utilization and care continuity in the last year of life in LBD.

Methods

Medicare claims for enrollees with LBD, continuously enrolled in the year preceding death, were examined from 2011-2018. We assessed hospital stays, emergency department (ED) visits, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, life-extending procedures, medications, and care continuity.

Results

We identified 45,762 LBD decedents, predominantly female (51.8%), White (85.9%), with average age of 84.1 years (SD 7.5). There was a median of 2 ED visits (IQR 1-5) and 1 inpatient stay (IQR 0-2). Higher age was inversely as

SUBMITTER: Alipour-Haris G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11371273 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature