Death among centenarians from pneumonia and frailty, or old age, is more likely than death from chronic conditions that are frequently associated with old age, including cancer or ischemic heart disease, according to an observational study in England. The study, which was completed by Catherine Evans and other researchers from King’s College London, compared these results with older adults under 100 years of age.

The study results indicated that centenarians were most likely to die in a care home (61 percent) or a hospital (27 percent), rather than die at home (10 percent) or in hospice care (0.2 percent). In hospitals, a higher care bed capacity was linked to fewer centenarian deaths.

According to The Centenarian, current estimates suggest that there are around 450,000 centenarians worldwide, with as many as 72,000 living in the U.S.

The study authors state that centenarians are a quickly growing demographic group around the world, with numbers projected to reach 3,224,000 by 2050.

In England, the number of annual centenarian deaths increased by 56 percent in 10 years, from 2,823 in 2001 to 4,393 in 2010.

The study authors said in a statement, “To reduce reliance on hospital care at the end of life requires recognition of centenarians’ increased likelihood to ”acute” decline, notably from pneumonia, and wider provision of anticipatory care to enable people to remain in their usual residence, and increasing care home bed capacity.”