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Table 3 Factors associated with primary care service use in the last 3 months of life, N = 68,523

From: Primary care service use by end-of-life cancer patients: a nationwide population-based cohort study in the United Kingdom

Variable

Value

GP consultation

 

GP prescription

 

GP referral to other specialities

 

Palliative care

Yes

1.39(1.37 to 1.42)

< 0.0001

1.39(1.37 to 1.41)

< 0.0001

1.26(1.20 to 1.33)

< 0.0001

Age at death (ref: < 50)

50–59

0.99(0.95 to 1.02)

< 0.0001

1.04(0.98 to 1.10)

< 0.0001

1.14(1.00 to 1.30)

< 0.0001

60–69

0.97(0.94 to 1.01)

 

1.05(0.99 to 1.10)

 

1.24(1.09 to 1.41)

 

70–79

0.93(0.90 to 0.96)

 

1.03(0.97 to 1.08)

 

1.23(1.09 to 1.40)

 

80–89

0.86(0.83 to 0.90)

 

1.04(0.98 to 1.10)

 

1.23(1.08 to 1.39)

 

90+

0.81(0.78 to 0.84)

 

1.12(1.06 to 1.20)

 

1.12(0.97 to 1.28)

 

Gender (ref: female)

Male

0.97(0.96 to 0.98)

< 0.0001

0.90(0.89 to 0.92)

< 0.0001

1.04(1.00 to 1.08)

0.05

Cancer site (ref: Lung)

Colorectal

0.99(0.97 to 1.01)

< 0.0001

1.01(0.98 to 1.04)

< 0.0001

1.10(1.04 to 1.16)

< 0.0001

Breast

1.00(0.98 to 1.02)

 

0.95(0.93 to 0.98)

 

0.99(0.95 to 1.04)

 

Prostate

1.10(1.08 to 1.12)

 

1.11(1.08 to 1.13)

 

1.15(1.09 to 1.22)

 

No. comorbidity conditions (ref: 0)

1

1.03(1.01 to 1.04)

< 0.0001

1.11(1.09 to 1.14)

< 0.0001

1.02(0.96 to 1.08)

< 0.0001

2

1.08(1.06 to 1.10)

 

1.26(1.23 to 1.28)

 

1.05(0.99 to 1.11)

 

3

1.10(1.08 to 1.12)

 

1.39(1.35 to 1.43)

 

1.09(1.02 to 1.16)

 

4+

1.18(1.16 to 1.20)

 

1.58(1.53 to 1.63)

 

1.17(1.07 to 1.27)

 

Time between diagnosis and death (months)

(ref: 120+)

< 6

1.40(1.35 to 1.45)

< 0.0001

1.15(1.10 to 1.21)

< 0.0001

1.81(1.62 to 2.02)

< 0.0001

6–12

1.14(1.10 to 1.19)

 

1.12(1.07 to 1.18)

 

1.04(0.93 to 1.17)

 

13–36

1.09(1.05 to 1.13)

 

1.07(1.03 to 1.12)

 

1.01(0.91 to 1.13)

 

37–60

1.06(1.02 to 1.10)

 

1.05(1.00 to 1.10)

 

1.03(0.91 to 1.16)

 

61–120

1.00(0.96 to 1.04)

 

1.00(0.95 to 1.04)

 

1.06(0.95 to 1.18)

 

Year of death (ref: 2010–2014)

2000–2004

0.66(0.63 to 0.69)

< 0.0001

0.88(0.85 to 0.90)

< 0.0001

1.16(1.03 to 1.31)

< 0.0001

2005–2009

0.85(0.83 to 0.88)

 

0.93(0.91 to 0.96)

 

0.92(0.86 to 0.99)

 

Region (ref: England)

Wales

0.91(0.81 to 1.02)

0.12

1.10(1.03 to 1.17)

< 0.0001

1.23(1.00 to 1.51)

0.029

Scotland

0.99(0.88 to 1.10)

 

0.86(0.81 to 0.92)

 

0.83(0.64 to 1.07)

 

NI

1.22(1.00 to 1.48)

 

1.07(0.95 to 1.20)

 

1.21(1.01 to 1.46)