Table 1.
Patient demographics (n = 120)
| Patients with advance directives (n = 46) | Patients without advance directives (n = 74) | |
|---|---|---|
| Median age at death, years1 (range) | 62 (32–85) | 61 (24–85) |
| Gender | ||
| Male | 25 (54) | 37 (50) |
| Female | 21 (46) | 37 (50) |
| Cancer curable? | ||
| Yes | 3 (7) | 1 (1) |
| No | 43 (93) | 73 (99) |
| Cancer diagnosis | ||
| Gastrointestinal | 16 (35) | 25 (34) |
| Lung | 10 (22) | 24 (32) |
| Breast | 3 (7) | 6 (8) |
| Genitourinary | 5 (11) | 3 (4) |
| Other | 12 (26) | 16 (22) |
| Admission main symptom/diagnosis | ||
| Dyspnea | 9 (20) | 22 (30) |
| Pain | 11 (24) | 12 (16) |
| Infection | 3 (7) | 8 (11) |
| Weakness | 6 (13) | 10 (14) |
| Pulmonary embolus/thrombophlebitis | 3 (7) | 3 (4) |
| Nausea/vomiting | 3 (7) | 8 (11) |
| Other | 11 (24) | 11 (15) |
1
Figures in parentheses are percentages, unless indicated otherwise. Percentages may not sum to 100% because of rounding.