Catastrophic health expenditure of cancer patients at the end-of-life: a retrospective observational study in China

Table 1 Characteristics of the study sample by geographical location (N = 792)

Characteristics	Urban area (n = 195)			Rural area (n = 597)			p value*
Characteristics	N	%	Mean	n	%	Mean	p value*
Gender			NA			NA	0.003
Male	116	59.49		423	70.85
Female	79	40.51		174	29.15
Age			64.75			64.01	0.588
Age < 45	15	7.69		44	7.49
Age 45–55	37	18.97		77	13.12
Age 55–65	40	20.51		174	29.64
Age 65–75	48	24.62		169	28.79
Age ≥ 75	55	28.21		133	22.66
Marriages
Unmarried	39	20.00		96	16.08		0.206
Married	156	80.00		501	83.92
Occupation							0.000
Farmer	37	18.97		476	79.73
Steady workers	27	13.85		42	7.04
Non-regular workers	55	28.21		55	9.21
The retired	76	38.97		24	4.02
Insurance status							0.000
MIUE	92	47.18		37	6.20
MIUR	28	14.36		37	6.20
NUMS	37	18.97		473	79.23
Other insurance plan	30	15.39		21	3.52
None	8	4.10		29	4.85
Days from diagnosis to death			548.82			448.29	0.000
≤ 3 months	35	17.95		96	16.08
3 months–6 months	33	16.92		123	20.60
6 months-1 year	57	29.23		157	26.30
1 year-2 years	40	20.51		137	22.95
≥ 2 years	30	15.38		84	14.07
Cancer site							0.000
Lung	42	21.54		145	24.29
Intestinal	18	9.23		35	5.86
Gastric	27	13.85		99	16.58
Liver	30	15.38		105	17.59
Esophagus cancer	8	4.1		78	13.07
Other	70	35.9		135	22.61

ISSN: 1472-684X