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Table 2 Illness characteristics of deaths occurring non-suddenly at home*

From: Dying at home in Belgium: a descriptive GP interview study

Variable† N = 205 %
Main diagnosis   
   Cancer 122 60
   Cerebral vascular accident 18 9
   Heart failure 19 9
   Old age 6 3
   Dementia 9 4
   Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 11 6
   Organ failure 7 3
   Other 11 6
(Occurrence of) Comorbidities ‡
   None 38 19
   One or more 167 81
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 49 24
Heart complaints 70 34
Diabetes 20 10
Hypertension 51 25
Joint arthritis 38 18
Other 180 88
Cause of death
   Cancer 118 58
   Cardiovascular disease 26 13
   Pulmonary (respiratory) disease 16 8
   Nervous system disease 14 7
   Other/unknown 25 12
When did illness start?
   < 1 month before death 21 10
   1-6 months before death 70 34
   > 6 months before death 114 56
When was patient diagnosed?
   < 1 month before death 21 10
   1-6 months before death 38 19
   > 6 months before death 142 71
  1. * Own home or home of a relative
  2. † Missing answers: for Main diagnoses n = 2, for Cause of death n = 6, for Duration of illness until death n = 4, for Period until death after onset of diagnose n = 4
  3. ‡ Multiple answers possible
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