Table 3.
Frequencies of characteristics at discharge that are suggestive of palliative care needs among older medical intensive care unit survivors discharged to post–acute care facilities and for those who received or did not receive mechanical ventilation
| Patient Characteristics | All (n = 228) | Mechanical Ventilation* (n = 122) | No Mechanical Ventilation (n = 106) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristics suggesting physical symptom distress | |||
| Chronic wounds | 51 (22)† | 29 (24) | 22 (21) |
| Supplemental oxygen use at discharge | 84 (37) | 65 (53) | 19 (18) |
| Noninvasive mechanical ventilation at discharge | 15 (6.6) | 11 (9.0) | 4 (3.8) |
| Opioids prescribed at discharge | 33 (14) | 14 (11) | 19 (18) |
| Characteristics suggesting psychological symptom distress | |||
| Chaplain consultation | 38 (17) | 29 (24) | 9 (8.5) |
| Dementia or delirium | 88 (39) | 42 (34) | 46 (44) |
| Tricyclic antidepressants or GABA analogs prescribed at discharge | 16 (6.6) | 9 (7.3) | 7 (6.6) |
| Anxiolytics (benzodiazepines) prescribed at discharge | 15 (6.5) | 13 (11) | 2 (1.9) |
| Antipsychotics prescribed at discharge‡ | 29 (12) | 19 (16) | 10 (9.4) |
| Characteristics suggesting an anticipated poor prognosis | |||
| Active malignancy or metastatic disease | 22 (9.6) | 12 (10) | 10 (9.4) |
| Designated “do not resuscitate” at discharge | 53 (23) | 26 (21) | 27 (25) |
| Designated “comfort care” at discharge | 19 (8.3) | 10 (8.2) | 9 (8.5) |
| 6-mo mortality§ | 92 (40) | 49 (40) | 43 (41) |
Definition of abbreviation: GABA = γ-aminobutyric acid.
*
Mechanical ventilation of any duration.
†
Values are number of subjects with percentage in parentheses.
‡
Haloperidol, olanzapine, risperidone, or quetiapine.
§
Death within 6-mo after date of hospital discharge.