A recent article published in the journal Public Health has called for a joint European policy to help inform national strategies for dealing with growing end of life care needs.

The study, which analysed trends in population, mortality and place of death (PoD)  in Germany since 1950,  aimed to make predictions on mortality and place of death up to 2050.

Results suggested that , unlike other industrialized countries, in Germany most people die outside of hospital and this was likely to continue. However, the need to plan for growing end of life care needs and ageing is as urgent in Germany as the rest of Europe.

The authors estimated that the annual number of deaths in Germany would increase by 26% from 854,544 in 2009 to 1,077,000 in 2050. They also predicted that older people (aged 75 or over) will account for 87.8% of all deaths in 2050, up from 64.4% in 2009.

The authors called for a joint European policy to inform national strategies.

Reference: Simon ST, Gomes B, Koeskeroglu P, Higginson IJ, Bausewein C. Population, mortality and place of death in Germany (1950–2050) – Implications for end-of-life care in the future. Public Health. 4 October 2012.