Table 1.
Characteristics of Decedents and Respondents by Racial Group
| Variable | Decedents, %a | P Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black (n = 281) | White (n = 825) | ||
| Decedent characteristics | |||
| Aged >85 y | 32.6 | 42.0 | .002 |
| Female | 55.8 | 56.7 | .83 |
| Married | 34.7 | 47.7 | .001 |
| High school degree or above | 44.8 | 74.3 | <.001 |
| Cancer diagnosis | 10.5 | 13.8 | .22 |
| Functional decline | 48.8 | 39.2 | .05 |
| Geographic location | |||
| New England | 0.3 | 5.1 | .002 |
| Mid-Atlantic | 9.3 | 14.2 | |
| Midwest (east) | 14.2 | 16.1 | |
| Midwest (west) | 2.7 | 10.7 | |
| South Atlantic | 29.2 | 17.4 | |
| Southeast | 18.1 | 6.6 | |
| Southwest | 16.4 | 9.7 | |
| Mountain | 0.6 | 2.5 | |
| Pacific | 9.3 | 17.5 | |
| Place of death | |||
| Home | 31.5 | 40.0 | <.001 |
| Hospital (general medical care) | 14.6 | 12.4 | |
| Intensive care unit | 20.0 | 8.6 | |
| Nursing home | 16.8 | 16.9 | |
| Hospice/palliative care unit | 14.5 | 19.3 | |
| Other | 2.6 | 2.9 | |
| Hospice in last month of life | 31.0 | 42.3 | .05 |
| Respondent relationship | |||
| Spouse | 20.1 | 30.3 | .009 |
| Child | 52.0 | 53.5 | .18 |
| Other family | 23.4 | 8.1 | <.001 |
| Other friend | 13.2 | 10.3 | .18 |
a
Data are presented as survey–weight adjusted percentages.