Characteristics, situational data and prevalence of symptoms and care needs for non-cancer patients
| Spain | Sweden | |||||
| All (n=76) | Male (n=39) | Female (n=37) | All (n=90) | Male (n=46) | Female (n=44) | |
| Age; mean, (range) SD | 78.5, (21–101) 11.8 | 79.8, (40–101) 10.1 | 77.1, (21–94) 13.4 | 84.7, (56–102) 8.4*** | 85.1, (56–96) 7.8** | 84.3, (66–102) 9.0** |
| No of symptoms and care needs per patient; mean, median (range) | 3.3, 3 (1–7)*** | 3.5, 3 (1–7)** | 3.2, 3 (1–6)* | 2.4, 2 (1–6) | 2.3, 2 (1–5) | 2.6, 2 (1–6) |
| Connected to palliative team; % | 18.4** | 20.5** | 16.2** | 3.3 | 4.3 | 2.3 |
| Symptoms/care needs; % | ||||||
| Blood transfusion | 6.6 | 7.7 | 5.4 | 5.6 | 2.2 | 9.1 |
| Congestive heart failure treatment | 9.2 | 10.3 | 8.1 | 34.4*** | 32.6* | 36.4** |
| Diagnostic procedure | 13.2 | 10.3 | 16.2 | 12.2 | 8.7 | 15.9 |
| Deterioration | 90.8*** | 87.2*** | 94.6*** | 48.9 | 41.3 | 56.8 |
| Fatigue | 32.9 | 28.2 | 37.8* | 21.1 | 23.9 | 18.2 |
| Infection | 31.6 | 33.3 | 29.7 | 34.4 | 39.1 | 29.5 |
| Inhalation | 5.3 | 10.3 | – | 10.0 | 10.9 | 9.1 |
| Infusion | 18.4** | 10.3 | 27.0** | 3.3 | 4.3 | 2.3 |
| Nausea | 9.2* | 12.8 | 5.4 | 1.1 | 2.2 | – |
| Nutrition | 26.3 | 25.6* | 27.0 | 18.9 | 8.7 | 29.5 |
| Obstipation | 9.2* | 12.8 | 5.4 | 1.1 | 2.2 | – |
| Pain | 30.3 | 35.9 | 24.3 | 22.2 | 23.9 | 20.5 |
| Psychosocial issues | 11.8** | 10.3 | 13.5* | 1.1 | 2.2 | – |
| Social problems | 17.1*** | 25.6*** | 8.1 | 1.1 | – | 2.3 |
Significant difference between the countries (indicated with * at the higher value).
*P<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001.