Table 3 Study characteristics and key findings: epidemiological studies
Paper | Smith et al. (2010) | Borgsteede et al. (2007) |
|---|---|---|
Study Aim | To describe the epidemiology of pain at the EoL | To describe the prevalence of symptoms in patients receiving palliative care at home |
Study Population | Data obtained from The Health and Retirement Study (USA) | Study nested in the 2nd Dutch National Survey of General Practice (DNSGP-2) |
Sampling Frame | National probability sample of US households | A representative sample of 104 Dutch GPs |
Sample Population | Community dwelling older adults who died within 24 months of final period of data collection (N = 4703) | Patients who died with an observation period of at least 3 months in the survey year and were labelled as palliative care patients by their GP (N = 429) |
Data Collection | Telephone interviews (and some home visits) | From GP records of GP/Patients encounters |
Sample Characteristics | Male = 52.3% Female 47.7% | Male 47%, Female 53% |
Mean age, (SD): 75.7, (10.8) | Mean age (SD): 76.8 (13.9) | |
Age distribution: 21% < 65; 24% > = 66–75: 36% > = 67–85:19% > 86 | Age distribution: 28% < 70; 24% = 70–79: 31% = 80–89: 16% > 90 | |
Terminal Diagnosis: Cancer 27.6%; Heart Disease 29.7%: Frailty 11.8%; Sudden Death 16.7%; Other 14.2% (62.2% had arthritis) | Terminal Diagnosis: Cancer 56%; Heart failure 11%; COPD 3%; Other disease 25%; Multiple non cancer diseases 5% | |
Key measure: Prevalence | Key measure: Prevalence | |
Key Findings | Arthritis strongly associated with pain at EoL (P < 0.001). | The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms was 20% in patient physician encounters. |
In final month of life pain prevalence was 60% in people with arthritis versus 26% in people without arthritis. |