title: Characteristics of subjects who died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Andalusia in 2010 and 2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The place of death is an important consideration in the end-of-life care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to describe the place of death for patients with COPD in Andalusia (Spain) and the determinants of death at home compared to death outside of home.
  
  
  METHODS
  This observational study analyzed place of death from death certificates for the years 2010 and 2011 in Andalusia, Spain (over 8 million inhabitants, 17.8% of the Spanish population).
  
  
  METHODS
  Death certificates obtained from the Institute of Statistics and Cartography of Andalusia were used to describe where patients with COPD died. All deaths with ICD-10 codes J40 to J44 or J47 (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision) were included for the years 2010 and 2011. Upon review of the death certificates, the following data were recorded: age, sex, marital status, rural areas, and place of death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of a total of 119,589 decedents, the research team retrieved the place of death for 4983 subjects. The chance of dying at home was higher for COPD patients aged ≥ 89 years and for females. Married and widowed persons had a greater likelihood of dying at home than singles. Moreover, the likelihood of death at home was higher for individuals residing in rural areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age, sex, marital status, and rural areas of residence determine where COPD patients will end their life in Andalusia. Knowledge about place of death and its determinants will facilitate the planning of health care palliative services.
authors.affiliation: 1 Unidad Medico-Quirúrgica de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio , Seville, Spain .
authors.forename: Jose Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: López-Campos
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Ramos
authors.forename: Camila
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mendez
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-León
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003644:Death Certificates; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000401:mortality*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult