Predictors and Outcomes of Palliative Care Consultation in Veterans Hospitalized with Alcohol-Associated Hepatitis
In a study published in the Journal of Palliative Medicine, researchers examined predictors and outcomes of palliative care consultation among Veterans hospitalized with alcohol-associated hepatitis, a high-mortality condition for which little is known about palliative care utilization. They found that palliative care consultation was infrequent (17.2%) and, when it occurred, typically happened late in the hospitalization, with consultations largely targeted toward patients nearing death rather than integrated earlier in care. The authors also identified a significant racial disparity, with Black veterans less likely to receive a palliative care consultation than White veterans, and concluded that inpatient palliative care services may be underutilized in this population.