Association of rurality, type of primary caregiver and place of death with end-of-life medical expenditures among the oldest-old population in China

Abstract

Background Understanding whether the type of primary caregiver and end-of-life (EOL) care location are associated with EOL medical expenditures is crucial to inform global debates on policies for efficient and effective EOL care. This study aims to assess trends in the type of primary caregiver and place of death stratified by rural‒urban status among the oldest-old population from 1998–2018 in China. A secondary objective is to determine the associations between rurality, the type of primary caregiver, place of death and EOL medical expenditures. Methods A total of 20,149 deaths of people aged 80 years or older were derived from the Chinese Longitudinal Health Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Cochran-Armitage tests and Cuzick’s tests were used to test trends in the type of primary caregiver and place of death over time, respectively. Tobit models were used to estimate the marginal associations of rurality, type of primary caregiver, and place of death with EOL medical expenditures because CLHLS sets 100,000 Chinese yuan (approximately US$15,286) as the upper limit of the outcome variable. Results Of the 20,149 oldest-old people, the median age at death was 97 years old, 12,490 (weighted, 58.6%, hereafter) were female, and 8,235 lived in urban areas. From 1998–2018, the prevalence of informal caregivers significantly increased from 94.3% to 96.2%, and home death significantly increased from 86.0% to 89.5%. The proportion of people receiving help from informal caregivers significantly increased in urban decedents (16.5%) but decreased in rural decedents (-4.0%), while home death rates significantly increased among both urban (15.3%) and rural (1.8%) decedents. In the adjusted models, rural decedents spent less than urban decedents did (marginal difference [95% CI]: $-229 [$-378, $-80]). Those who died in hospitals spent more than those who died at home ($798 [$518, $1077]). No difference in medical expenditures by type of primary caregiver was observed. Conclusions Over the past two decades, the increases in informal caregiver utilization and home deaths were unequal, leading to substantially higher EOL medical expenditures among urban decedents and deceased individuals who died at hospitals than among their counterparts who lived in rural areas and died at home.

Trends in the availability of community-based home visiting services for oldest-old in China, 2005–2018

“… 19 Healthcare professional shortages in rural areas might exacerbate rural‒urban disparities in the access to and utilisation of services and health outcomes among frail or disabled older adults and those with mental health disorders. 23 24 Previous studies have shown that adequate access to healthcare services may lead to a greater expectancy increase among rural older adults; 25 and greater service scope by primary care facilities was associated with shorter lengths of stay and lower healthcare expenditures among rural residents in China. 26 Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has made home visiting services a viable alternative to hospitalisation for the oldest-old individuals in need.…”

“…In China, rural older adults suffer a greater risk of depression and experienced less social participation than their urban counterparts do 19. Healthcare professional shortages in rural areas might exacerbate rural‒urban disparities in the access to and utilisation of services and health outcomes among frail or disabled older adults and those with mental health disorders 23 24. Previous studies have shown that adequate access to healthcare services may lead to a greater expectancy increase among rural older adults;25 and greater service scope by primary care facilities was associated with shorter lengths of stay and lower healthcare expenditures among rural residents in China 26.…”