Table 2:
Study outcomes related to the use of aggressive end-of-life care in the 2 groups
| Outcome | Group; no. (%) of patients | Absolute risk reduction (95% CI) | Number needed to treat (95% CI) | RR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMP | Non-SMP | ||||
| Hospital admission | 36 (4.8) | 57 (7.6) | 2.79 (2.76–2.82) | 36 (35.45–36.25) | 0.63 (0.42–0.95) |
| Emergency department visit | 71 (9.4) | 99 (13.1) | 3.71 (3.66–3.76) | 27 (26.57–27.35) | 0.72 (0.53–0.97) |
| Chemotherapy | 11 (1.5) | 19 (2.5) | – | – | – |
| Intensive care unit admission | 8 (1.1) | 92 (12.2) | 11.14 (11.11–11.17) | 9 (8.95–9.00) | 0.09 (0.04–0.18) |
| Any aggressive end-of-life care | 94 (12.5) | 190 (25.2) | 12.73 (12.65–12.81) | 8 (7.81–7.91) | 0.50 (0.39–0.62) |
| Death in acute care | 182 (24.1) | 332 (44.0) | 19.89 (19.78–20.00) | 5 (5.00–5.06) | 0.55 (0.47–0.64) |
Note: CI = confidence interval, RR = relative risk, SMP = Symptom Management Program.