Place of death among foreign-born individuals: a national population-based register study

Relatively little is known about where foreign-born individuals die in Sweden and how birth region might influence place of death. Thus, there is a need for population-based studies investigating place of death and associated factors among foreign-born individuals.

The aim of this study was to identify variations in place of death among foreign-born individuals residing in Sweden and to compare place of death between the foreign- and domestic-born population. We also examine the association between place of death, underlying cause of death and sociodemographic characteristics among the foreign-born population.

A population-based register study.

All deceased individuals ⩾18 years of age in Sweden with a registered place of death between 2012 and 2019 (n = 682,697). Among these, 78,466 individuals were foreign-born. Univariable multinomial logistic regression modelling and multivariable multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed.

Overall, hospital was the most common place of death among the foreign-born population. However, there were variations in place of death related to region of birth. Compared to domestic-born, a higher proportion of foreign-born individuals dies at home, the majority of whom were born on the African continent.

Region of birth is one of the several factors associated with place of death among foreign-born individuals. Further research is needed to explore both preferences and barriers to place of death among foreign-born individuals.