Care in the last year of life for community patients with heart failure.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Healthcare utilization peaks at the end of life (EOL) in patients with heart failure. However, it is unclear what factors affect end of life utilization in patients with heart failure and if utilization has changed over time.

Methods and results

Southeastern Minnesota residents with heart failure were prospectively enrolled into a longitudinal cohort study from 2003 to 2011. Patients who died before December 31, 2012, were included in the analysis. Information on hospitalizations and outpatient visits in the last year of life was obtained using administrative sources. Negative binomial regression was used to assess the association between patient characteristics and utilization. The 698 decedents (47.3% men; 53.4% preserved ejection fraction) experienced 1528 hosp

SUBMITTER: Dunlay SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4439290 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature