Abstract
Objectives: To examine the relationship between end-of-life (EOL) treatment preferences and recent hospitalization or emergency department (ED) care in the very old. Design: Quarterly telephone follow-up of participants in the EOL in the Very Old cohort. Setting: The EOL in the Very Old Age cohort drew from 1403 participants in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) study who were alive in year 15 of follow-up. 87.5% (n = 1227) were successfully recontacted and enrolled. Participants: Preferences for treatment at the EOL and reported hospital and ED use were examined for 1118 participants (18% involving proxy reports) over 6 months, 1021 (16% with proxy reports) over 12 months, and 945 (23% with proxy reports) over 18 months in 6-month intervals. Measurements: Preferences for eight EOL treatments, elicited once each year; hospitalization and ED use reported every six months. Results: Preferences for more aggressive treatment (endorsing ≥5 of 8 options) were not significantly associated with inpatient or ED treatment. Inpatient and ED treatment were not associated with changes in preferences for aggressive EOL treatment over 12 months. Conclusion: Alternative measures that tap attitudes toward routine care, rather than EOL treatment preferences, may be more highly associated with healthcare utilization.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 618-624 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Palliative Medicine |
Volume | 20 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2017 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Cohort studies
- End-of-life
- Health ABC
- Healthcare utilization
- Treatment preferences
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Nursing
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine