Table 3 The association of palliative care pathway referrals on the utilization of healthcare resources during the last month of life in patients with nonmalignant pulmonary disease or lung cancer

Number of patients, n (%)^a

 Lung cancer

417

361

(87)

56

(13)

 Nonmalignant disease

93

73

(78)

20

(22)

Patients visiting ER < 1 month before death, n (%)

 Lung cancer

142

(34)

112

(31)

30

(54)

< 0.001

 Nonmalignant disease

37

(40)

28

(38)

9

(45)

0.591

Acute inpatient days < 1 month before death, median (range)

 Lung cancer

0

(0–31)

0

(0–31)

2

(0–26)

0.002

 Nonmalignant disease

0

(0–31)

0

(0–28)

0

(0–31)

0.753