Where Do Egyptian Palliative Care Patients With Cancer Die?

Abstract

This report describes the death place of patients with advanced cancer referred to an Egyptian palliative care program over 1 year. Of 79 patients included, 73% died at home and 27% in hospital or ambulance. Patients who were visited by a palliative care physician at home were significantly more likely to die at home compared to those who did not (92% vs 64%, P = .008). The palliative care survival of those who died at home was significantly longer than those who died in hospital or ambulance (63 vs 39 days, P = .04). These results demonstrate the need for the integration of effective home care model in evolving Egyptian palliative care programs and suggest that physician home visits and earlier referral to palliative care help patients die at home.