Table 1 Characteristics of the whole sample and of eligible patients

Age at death (years)

 18–55

32

18

56.2

 56–65

53

28

52.8

 66–75

84

45

53.6

 76–85

87

46

52.9

  > 85

39

13

33.3

0.228

Gender

 Males

160

77

48.1

 Females

131

73

55.7

0.197

 Unknown

4

-

Education (years)

  ≤ 5

146

74

50.7

 6–8

76

37

48.7

 9+

58

35

60.3

0.358

 Unknown

15

4

Marital status

 Single

85

45

52.9

 Married

182

91

50.0

0.654

 Unknown

28

14

Primary tumor

 Head and neck

8

4

50.0

 Digestive system

114

64

56.1

 Respiratory system

73

35

47.9

 Breast

24

14

58.3

 Genitourinary system

34

19

55.9

 Hematological

12

6

50.0

 Others

30

8

26.7

0.151

ECOG

 Fully active

5

4

80.0

 Restricted

10

9

90.0

 Ambulatory

23

17

73.9

 Limited self-care

124

88

71.0

 Completely disabled

132

32

24.2

<0.001

 Unknown

1

-

Settings

 In-patient hospice PCTs

160

68

42.5

 Home based PCTs

135

82

60.7

0.002

Totals

295

150

50.8