Ana Rute Costa1, Luís Alves2,3, Nuno Lunet1,4. 1. EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. 2. Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. 3. USF St. André de Canidelo, ACES Grande Porto Gaia VII, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal. 4. Departamento de Ciências da Saúde Pública e Forenses e Educação Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to quantify the effect of a cancer death on healthcare and medication use among widowed individuals (Widowed-Cancer), by comparing this population with partnered individuals and with widowed individuals whose partners were deceased due to cardiovascular diseases (Widowed-CVD). METHODS: Data were retrieved from the Sixth Wave of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe - SHARE, conducted in 2015, in 18 countries. Widowed-Cancer were matched by country, sex, age and educational level with currently partnered individuals (1:2; n = 901 and n = 1802, respectively) and with Widowed-CVD (1:1; n = 606 and n = 606, respectively). Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were computed using logistic regression. RESULTS: The use of drugs for sleep problems (OR = 1.42, 95%CI:1.12-1.80) and anxiety or depression (OR = 1.56, 95%CI:1.20-2.03) was more common among Widowed-Cancer than in partnered individuals; a tendency towards higher odds of being hospitalised in the previous year was also observed in Widowed-Cancer (OR = 1.20, 95%CI:0.98-1.47). Among participants whose partners were deceased in 2015, Widowed-Cancer were more likely than Widowed-CVD to report ≥10 contacts with medical doctors or nurses in the previous year (OR = 3.32, 95%CI:1.20-9.24; P for interaction = .042) and a higher use of drugs for sleep problems (OR = 14.43, 95%CI:1.74-119.84; P for interaction = .027). CONCLUSION: Widowed individuals whose partners were deceased due to cancer had a higher use of healthcare, which highlights the importance of improving the quality of end-of-life care, even during widowhood.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to quantify the effect of a cancer death on healthcare and medication use among widowed individuals (Widowed-Cancer), by comparing this population with partnered individuals and with widowed individuals whose partners were deceased due to cardiovascular diseases (Widowed-CVD). METHODS: Data were retrieved from the Sixth Wave of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe - SHARE, conducted in 2015, in 18 countries. Widowed-Cancer were matched by country, sex, age and educational level with currently partnered individuals (1:2; n = 901 and n = 1802, respectively) and with Widowed-CVD (1:1; n = 606 and n = 606, respectively). Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were computed using logistic regression. RESULTS: The use of drugs for sleep problems (OR = 1.42, 95%CI:1.12-1.80) and anxiety or depression (OR = 1.56, 95%CI:1.20-2.03) was more common among Widowed-Cancer than in partnered individuals; a tendency towards higher odds of being hospitalised in the previous year was also observed in Widowed-Cancer (OR = 1.20, 95%CI:0.98-1.47). Among participants whose partners were deceased in 2015, Widowed-Cancer were more likely than Widowed-CVD to report ≥10 contacts with medical doctors or nurses in the previous year (OR = 3.32, 95%CI:1.20-9.24; P for interaction = .042) and a higher use of drugs for sleep problems (OR = 14.43, 95%CI:1.74-119.84; P for interaction = .027). CONCLUSION: Widowed individuals whose partners were deceased due to cancer had a higher use of healthcare, which highlights the importance of improving the quality of end-of-life care, even during widowhood.