Sign in Subscribe
Cancer research

Hospitalist System Associated with Reduced In-Hospital Mortality Among Cancer Patients

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A recent study has found a significant association between the hospitalist system and reduced in-hospital mortality rates among patients with cancer. The research, conducted by a team of scientists from Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, analyzed data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Cohort Database and found that patients under the hospitalist system had a lower risk of in-hospital mortality. The study's results highlight the importance of continuous patient management and expertise in improving outcomes for cancer patients.

Key Takeaways:

  • The hospitalist system is directly responsible for inpatients, from hospitalization to discharge, and has been reimbursed by the Korean government since 2021.
  • The study included 398,732 patients with cancer from tertiary and general hospitals with hospitalists, with data extracted from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Cohort Database in 2021.
  • In-hospital mortality data was obtained, defined as the presence of a record of death between admission and discharge.
  • Patients under the hospitalist system had a lower risk of in-hospital mortality, with an odds ratio of 0.91 (95% CI: 0.87-0.96).
  • Specifically, patients in their 80s had a more significant association with lower in-hospital mortality, with an odds ratio of 0.31 (95% CI: 0.19-0.52).
  • Patients with high Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) also had a more significant association with lower in-hospital mortality, with an odds ratio of 0.93 (95% CI: 0.87-0.99).
  • The study's results highlight the need for dedicated personnel stationed in hospital wards for improved outcomes of patients with cancer.

Statistics:

  • 398,732 patients with cancer were included in the study, from tertiary and general hospitals with hospitalists.
  • 1:3 propensity score matching was performed to increase comparability.
  • Generalized estimation equation models were used to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (OR) for in-hospital mortality.
  • The odds ratio for in-hospital mortality under the hospitalist system was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.87-0.96).
  • Patients in their 80s had an odds ratio of 0.31 (95% CI: 0.19-0.52).
  • Patients with high CCI had an odds ratio of 0.93 (95% CI: 0.87-0.99).

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Findings in the Area of Cancer Reported from Yonsei University (Implementation of the Hospitalist System and In-Hospital Mortality Among Patients With Cancer: Using the National Health Insurance Cohort Data). Cancer Weekly. October 14, 2025; p 25.
  • Implementation of the Hospitalist System and In-Hospital Mortality Among Patients With Cancer: Using the National Health Insurance Cohort Data. Cancer Medicine, 2025;14(19).
  • Wiley. Cancer Medicine. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)2045-7634.

Read more