Trial results for a study investigating a new care model to remove transfusion dependence as a barrier to hospice enrollment for patients with Leukemia and other hematologic malignancies were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2026-01-15. The study reported that 10 participants chose to enroll in the new care model, with positive outcomes regarding end-of-life care.
Background
Hospice care offers a multidisciplinary approach to end-of-life (EOL) care, focusing on symptom control and quality of life for both patients and their families. While beneficial for patients with solid tumors, individuals with blood cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma, frequently delay hospice enrollment, often receiving more aggressive care at the EOL. A significant barrier contributing to this delay is the traditional inability for patients to receive blood transfusions while under hospice care, despite many blood cancer patients requiring frequent transfusions.
Trial design
This completed study, designated as Phase NA, enrolled a total of 18 participants. The trial investigated a care model aimed at addressing transfusion dependence as a barrier to hospice enrollment for patients with various conditions, including Hematologic Malignancy, Myelodysplastic Syndromes, Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Leukemia. The study's objective was to assess the proportion of eligible patients choosing to participate in this new care model compared to standard care, along with several end-of-life care metrics.
Key results
The trial reported several key measurements from the intervention arm:
- Proportion of Eligible Patients Choosing to Participate in the Care Model Under Study Rather Than Standard of Care: 10 Participants
- Time Enrolled on Hospice: A median of 13 days (Full Range)
- Number of Days in the ICU in the Last 30 Days of Life: A median of 0 days (Full Range)
- Death in an Acute Care Hospital: 0 Participants
- Receipt of Chemotherapy in the Last 14 Days of Life: 0 Participants
What this means
The results indicate that the investigated care model successfully encouraged eligible patients with hematologic malignancies to choose hospice care, with 10 participants opting for the model. The median hospice enrollment time of 13 days, coupled with a median of 0 days in the ICU during the last 30 days of life, suggests an improvement in the quality of end-of-life care. Furthermore, the finding of 0 participants experiencing death in an acute care hospital and 0 participants receiving chemotherapy in the last 14 days of life highlights the model's potential to reduce aggressive interventions at the very end of life, aligning with hospice philosophy.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study "Removing Transfusion Dependence as a Barrier to Hospice Enrollment" were posted on 2026-01-15 on clinicaltrials.gov.