Dataset Information

Changes in the place of death before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In the global aging, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have affected the place of death (PoD) in Japan, where hospital deaths have dominated for decades. We analyzed the PoD trends before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.

Methods

This nationwide observational study used vital statistics based on death certificates from Japan between 1951 and 2021. The proportion of PoD; deaths at home, hospitals, and nursing homes; and annual percentage change (APC) were estimated using joinpoint regression analysis. Analyses were stratified by age groups and causes of death.

Results

After 2019, home deaths exhibited upward trends, while hospital death turned into downward trends. By age, no significant trend change was seen in the 0-19 age group, while hospital deaths decreased in the 20-64 age group in 2019. The trend change in home death in the ≥65 age group significantly increased since 2019 with an APC of 12.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.0 to 15.7), while their hospital death trends decreased by -4.0% (95% CI: -4.9 to -3.1) in 2019-2021. By cause of death, home death due to cancer and the old age increased since 2019 with an APC of 29.3% (95% CI: 25.4 to 33.2) and 8.8% (95% CI: 5.5 to 12.2), respectively.

Conclusion

PoD has shifted from hospital to home during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. The majority of whom were older population with cancer or old age.

SUBMITTER: Shibata M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10901324 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Changes in the place of death before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.

Shibata Masashi M Otsuka Yuki Y Hagiya Hideharu H Koyama Toshihiro T Kashiwagi Hideyuki H Otsuka Fumio F

PloS one 20240228 2

<h4>Background</h4>In the global aging, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have affected the place of death (PoD) in Japan, where hospital deaths have dominated for decades. We analyzed the PoD trends before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.<h4>Methods</h4>This nationwide observational study used vital statistics based on death certificates from Japan between 1951 and 2021. The proportion of PoD; deaths at home, hospitals, and nursing homes; and annual percentage chang ...[more]

PMID: 38416759

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Dataset Information

Changes in the place of death before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Changes in the place of death before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.

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