Death at home: predictive factors in a medical home care unit

The aim of this study was to investigate factors predictive for 'death at home' for patients admitted to an advanced medical home care unit in Stockholm, Sweden, with a focus on possible gender differences. In addition, place of death in relation to the patient's wishes was studied.

A retrospective review of medical records of all 456 deceased patients, 233 men and 223 women, admitted to the unit during 2017 was performed. Data on age, diagnosis, living conditions, Swedish language skills, desired place of death (if stated) and place of death were retrieved from the patients' charts.

A total of 114 of 456 patients died at home (25%). The probability of 'death at home' was independent of gender, age, diagnosis, living conditions and Swedish language skills. In a binary logistic regression model, the only factor significantly associated with death at home was 'the wish to die at home' (p<0.001). In the study population, 154 patients (34%) had expressed a preferred place of death, 116 (75%) wanted to die at home and 38 (25%) wanted to die in hospice. Of all patients who expressed a preferred place of death, 80% (n=123) had their wishes fulfilled and there were no differences between the sexes.

This study indicates equal opportunities regarding the possibility to die at home for patients admitted to advanced medical home care. It emphasises the importance of asking patients where they want to be at the end of life, as it was the foremost prognostic factor for place of death.