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Table 2 Illness characteristics of deaths occurring non-suddenly at home*

From: Dying at home in Belgium: a descriptive GP interview study

Variable†

N = 205

%

Main diagnosis

  

   Cancer

122

60

   Cerebral vascular accident

18

9

   Heart failure

19

9

   Old age

6

3

   Dementia

9

4

   Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

11

6

   Organ failure

7

3

   Other

11

6

(Occurrence of) Comorbidities ‡

   None

38

19

   One or more

167

81

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

49

24

Heart complaints

70

34

Diabetes

20

10

Hypertension

51

25

Joint arthritis

38

18

Other

180

88

Cause of death

   Cancer

118

58

   Cardiovascular disease

26

13

   Pulmonary (respiratory) disease

16

8

   Nervous system disease

14

7

   Other/unknown

25

12

When did illness start?

   < 1 month before death

21

10

   1-6 months before death

70

34

   > 6 months before death

114

56

When was patient diagnosed?

   < 1 month before death

21

10

   1-6 months before death

38

19

   > 6 months before death

142

71

  1. * Own home or home of a relative
  2. † Missing answers: for Main diagnoses n = 2, for Cause of death n = 6, for Duration of illness until death n = 4, for Period until death after onset of diagnose n = 4
  3. ‡ Multiple answers possible