People with advanced cancer are very likely to be hospitalized in the year after they are diagnosed, according to a study involving more than 25,000 individuals. Participants were from the California Cancer Registry and diagnosed with breast, colorectal, lung, or pancreatic cancer between 2009 and 2012. Investigators looked at hospitalization rates in the year after diagnosis. Among the results:

• 7 in every 10 patients with advanced cancer were hospitalized; 16% had ≥3 hospitalizations.
• Nearly two-thirds originated in the emergency department.
• Blacks and Hispanics were more likely to be readmitted, as were those with public insurance or no insurance.
• Patients with pancreatic or lung cancer were more likely to be readmitted than those with colorectal cancer.
• Rehospitalization rates were substantially lower after discharge from a hospital with an outpatient palliative care program.
• These rates were higher following discharge from a for-profit hospital.