Overall and earlier hospice enrollment increased over time in patients with advanced-stage lung cancer, according to a retrospective cohort study involving nearly 22,000 individuals. Participants were diagnosed with advanced-stage lung cancer between 2007 and 2013. Investigators looked the impact of various characteristics on hospice use and enrollment timing. Among the results:

• 7 in every 10 patients were enrolled in hospice.
• 53% of patients in hospice were enrolled in their last month of life; 15% were enrolled in the last 3 days of life.
• Hospice enrollment increased and average time from the cancer diagnosis to hospice enrollment decreased by 65 days.
• Decreases in late hospice enrollment were seen in the last month and last 3 days of life.
• The Southeast region of the US had the highest rate of hospice enrollment, as well as the lowest rate of late enrollment.
• Patient sociodemographic and lung cancer characteristics were linked with hospice enrollment.