The Places We Die

Americans are dying in places that are different from just a few short generations ago. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more Americans aged 85 and older die in nursing homes and those age 65 and older have died at home than at any other time. Nick Stepro of Arcadia Healthcare Solutions created a visualization of where and how people died based on data gathered from Arcadia Benchmark Database using health records and insurance claims for the last year of life for over 2,000 patients.

In his visualization, called “The Final Years” (http://www.arcadiasolutions.com/final-year-visualizing-end-life/) Stepro breaks down the data into some interesting trends. He explored the places that people died and the costs, medications, and conditions associated with each place. The trend of most people choosing to die at home is telling of the current crisis of rising healthcare costs and choices being made toward comfort and quality of end of life care.

Based on Arcadia’s data, below is ranking of the places in order of where American’s had chosen to die along with the top 10 prevalent conditions of those who died there:

• Home (42 percent died at home)

Lower Respiratory Disease; Arthritis; Accident/Injury; Sprain/Strain; Cancer; Heart Failure; Genital/Urinary Condition; Hypertension; Diabetes; and Liver Disease.

• Hospital (40 percent died in the hospital)

Lower Respiratory Disease; Accident/Injury; Arthritis; Respiratory Arrest; Gastrointestinal Disorder; Heart Failure; Genital/Urinary Condition; Cancer; Cardiac Dysrhythmia; and Diabetes.

• Hospice (7 percent died in hospice)

Cancer; Lower Respiratory Disease; Nervous System Disorder; Diabetes; Liver Disease; Joint Disorders; Arthritis; Genital/Urinary Condition; Alcohol Dependence; and COPD.

• Nursing Facility (7 percent died in a nursing facility)

Lower Respiratory Disease; Arthritis; Liver Disease; Heart Failure; Gastrointestinal Disorder; Nervous System Disorder; Genital/Urinary Condition; Chest Pain; Cancer; and Asthma.

• Emergency Department (5 percent died in the emergency department)

Cardiac Arrest; Accident/Injury; Sprain/Strain; Lower Respiratory Disease; Respiratory Arrest; Fractures; Genital/Urinary Condition; Arthritis; Seizures/Convulsions; and Allergic Reactions.

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-06-27/how-americans-die-in-one-amazing-graphic

http://www.arcadiasolutions.com/final-year-visualizing-end-life/

Click here to learn more about where patients receive care with hospice or palliative services.