Background: Married individuals are more likely to use hospice than unmarried individuals. We examine this association and how it is influenced by gender.
Methods: Medicare beneficiaries dying of cancer were studied.
Results: Currently married (OR 1.36 95% C.I. 1.28-1.45) or ever married (OR 1.23 95% C.I. 1.16-1.31) subjects were more likely to use hospice than never married subjects. A significant interaction between marital status and gender (P < .001) was observed.
Conclusions: Subjects likely to enroll in hospice are subjects likely to have greater supportive relationships.