Comparison of Palliative Care Delivery in the Last Year of Life Between Adults With Terminal Noncancer Illness or Cancer

Key Points Question How is palliative care being delivered to patients with noncancer illness (ie, chronic organ failure and dementia), and is it being delivered differently than for patients with cancer? Findings In this cohort study, among 145 709 adults who died of cancer or terminal noncancer illness and received palliative care in their last year of life, palliative care was more likely to be initiated earlier, initiated in the hospital setting, and delivered across multiple care settings in patients with cancer than in those with organ failure or dementia. Patients with cancer were more likely to receive care using a consultative or specialist model instead of a generalist model and received palliative care more often from general practitioners and physicians with subspecialty training compared with patients with chronic organ failure or dementia. Meaning Differences in the delivery of palliative care across distinct types of serious illness have important implications for the organization and scaled implementation of palliative care programs, including enhancement of practitioner education and training and improvements in equitable access to care across all settings.