Table IV.

Prevalence of use of advance directives, health care proxy, legal guardian, and living will in patients aged < 65 years, 65–79 years, and ≥80 years hospitalized in a cardiac care unit/intensive care unit

Variable	< 65 Years (n = 279)	65–79 Years (n = 141)	≥80 Years (n = 92)
Advance directives	50 (18%)	35 (25%)	29 (32%)
Health care proxy	53 (19%)	28 (20%)	16 (17%)
Legal guardian	42 (15%)	20 (14%)	18 (20%)
Living will	6 (2%)	12 (9%)	5 (5%)

For advance directives, p < 0.01 comparing ≥ 80 years with < 65 years. For living will, p < 0.005 comparing 65–79 years with < 65 years