Characteristics of 99 Patients Who Hastened Death by VSED
| Characteristic | % (95% CI) |
|---|---|
| Age at the time of death | |
| ≤65 y | 6 (3–13) |
| 66–80 y | 23 (16–33) |
| >80 y | 70 (60–78) |
| Partner | |
| Yes | 25 (18–35) |
| No, widow(er) | 64 (54–72) |
| No, other | 11 (6–19) |
| Residence | |
| Home (independently or with family) | 52 (42–62) |
| Residential home | 42 (33–52) |
| Hospice | 5 (2–12) |
| Other | 1 (0–6) |
| Diagnosisa | |
| A somatic disease, not cancerb | 39 (30–49) |
| Cancer | 27 (19–37) |
| (Early-stage) dementia | 12 (7–20) |
| Psychiatric disease | 7 (3–14) |
| No severe physical or psychiatric disease | 24 (17–34) |
| ECOG performance statusc | |
| 0 | 4 (1–10) |
| 1 | 8 (4–15) |
| 2 | 11 (6–19) |
| 3 | 47 (38–57) |
| 4 | 29 (21–39) |
| Life expectancy | |
| <1 wk | 2 (0–8) |
| 1–4 wk | 32 (23–41) |
| 1–12 mo | 41 (32–51) |
| >1 y | 26 (18–35) |
| Patient was mentally competent | |
| Yes | 90 (83–95) |
| Partly | 7 (3–15) |
| Nod | 2 (0–8) |
ECOG = Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; VSED = voluntary stopping of eating and drinking.
Note: Missing values ranged from 0.0% to 5.1%.
↵a Respondents could give one or more answers.
↵b 10% Neurologic disease, 10% musculoskeletal or rheumatic disease, 9% cardiovascular disease, 7% respiratory disease, 6% sensory loss or general decline, 4% pain syndrome, 3% diabetes, 4% other.
↵c ECOG performance status: (0) fully active; (1) restricted in physically strenuous activity but ambulatory and able to carry out light work; (2) ambulatory, capable of all self-care but unable to carry out work activities; up and about more than 50% of waking hours; (3) capable of only limited self-care, confined to bed/chair for more than 50% of waking hours; (4) completely disabled, no self-care possible, totally confined to bed or chair.27
↵d Two patients were not mentally competent: 1 had depression and 1 had depression and early-stage dementia.