Table 2.
Characteristics of Participants (N=241)
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Age at hospice admission, mean (SD), y | 88.4 (5.7) |
| Age <85 y, No. (%) | 72 (29.9) |
| Non-hispanic White, No.(%) | 216 (89.6) |
| Female sex, No. (%) | 157 (65.2) |
| Education <12y, No. (%) | 90 (37.3) |
| Cognitive impairmenta, No. (%) | 98 (40.7) |
| Body mass index, mean (SD) | 25.3 (5.2) |
| Depressive Symptomsb, No. (%) | 87 (36.1) |
| Individual Chronic Conditions | |
| Diabetes, No. (%) | 59 (24.5) |
| Arthritis, No. (%) | 127 (52.7) |
| Cancer, No. (%) | 71 (29.5) |
| Hypertension, No. (%) | 159 (66.0) |
| Lung Disease, No. (%) | 50 (20.8) |
| Congestive Heart Disease, No. (%) | 36 (14.9) |
| Myocardial Infarction, No. (%) | 59 (24.5) |
| Stroke, No. (%) | 40 (16.6) |
| Hip Fracture, No. (%) | 24 (10.0) |
| No. Chronic conditions, mean (SD) | 2.6 (1.3) |
Notes: Characteristics were assessed at the most proximate comprehensive assessment prior to death.
a
Folstein Mini-Mental State examination scores less than 24.
b
Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale scores greater than or equal to 16.