Table 2 End-of-life (EoL) characteristics of the protagonist patient whose EoL process was accounted for by the family caregiver included in the studied sample (N = 297)
Characteristic | Categories | n (%) |
|---|---|---|
Relationship of reporting caregiver to the dying patient | First-degree relative (parent, child, sibling) | 186 (62.6) |
Second-degree relative (grandparent, cousin, family relative) | 61 (20.5) | |
Close friend | 32 (10.8) | |
Other | 18 (6.1) | |
Age at death (years) | Mean (± SD) | 73.23 (± 14.88) |
≤ 50 | 23 (7.7) | |
51–60 | 46 (15.5) | |
61–70 | 46 (15.5) | |
71–80 | 74 (24.9) | |
81+ | 108 (36.4) | |
Major morbidities experienced before and during EoL | Chronic diseases—all | 107 (36.0) |
  Heart disease | 49 (16.5) | |
  Diabetes | 38 (12.8) | |
  Pulmonary disease | 33 (11.1) | |
  Kidney disease | 23 (7.7) | |
Malignant disease—all | 140 (47.1) | |
Incapacitating diseases—all | 121 (40.7) | |
  Old age | 60 (20.2) | |
  Dementia | 41 (13.8) | |
  Stroke | 32 (10.8) | |
Morbidity conditions—all | 297 (100) | |
  Malignant (isolated) | 116 (39.06) | |
  Incapacitating (isolated) | 69 (3.23) | |
  Chronic (isolated) | 53 (17.85) | |
  Malignant + Chronic | 9 (3.03) | |
  Malignant + Incapacitating | 6 (2.02) | |
  Chronic + Incapacitating | 36 (12.12) | |
  Chronic + Incapacitating + Malignant | 8 (2.69) | |
Place of death | Hospital (< month hospitalization) | 115 (39.8) |
Hospital (≥ month hospitalization) | 56 (19.4) | |
Home | 68 (23.5) | |
Geriatric/nursing care institution | 32 (11.1) | |
Hospice | 16 (5.5) | |
Other | 2 (0.7) | |
Dependency | Was not dependent | 38 (12.8) |
A few days/weeks | 73 (24.6) | |
Several months up to a year | 86 (29.0) | |
One to two years | 40 (13.5) | |
More than 2 years | 60 (20.2) |