Table 2.
Characteristics of coma patientsa
| Group | Survey participants, self-reported (anytime) | Family membersb | Non-family membersb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coma cases, N | 38c | 67 | 165 |
| Country, N (%) | |||
| USA | 20 (52.6) | 47 (70.1) | 91 (55.2 |
| UK | 18 (47.3) | 20 (29.9) | 74 (44.8) |
| Age, mean (SD) | 55.4 (18.3) | 58.5 (21.9) | 51.4 (18.2) |
| Gender, %d | |||
| Female | 51.4 | 43.3 | 33.3 |
| Male | 48.6 | 56.7 | 66.6 |
| Cause of coma, N (%) | |||
| Stroke | 1 (2.6) | 18 (26.9) | 19 (11.5) |
| Medically induced | 4 (10.5) | 9 (13.4) | 7 (4.2) |
| COVID-19 | 1 (2.6) | 8 (11.9) | 74 (44.8) |
| Cardiac arrest | 9e (23.7) | 5 (7.5) | 10 (6.1) |
| TBI | 13f (34.2) | 5 (7.5) | 22 (13.3) |
| Systemic infections | 2 (5.4) | 4 (6.0) | 7 (4.2) |
| Intoxication | 1 (2.6) | 3 (4.5) | 5 (3.0) |
| Unknown | 0 | 1 (1.5) | 6 (3.6) |
| Otherg | 7 (18.4) | 14 (20.9) | 15 (9.1) |
| Length of coma, days, median (range) | — | 5 (1-150) | 9 (1-372) |
| ICU admission, N (%) | — | 59 (88.1) | 159 (96.4) |
| Survival, N (%) | |||
| Good outcomeh | 35 (100) | 19 (28.3) | — |
| Bad outcomeh | — | 9 (13.4) | — |
| Death | — | 33 (49.3) | — |
| Not determined | — | 6 (8.9) | — |
SD, standard deviation; TBI, traumatic brain injury; ICU, intensive care unit.
a
For which patient data at the individual level were available.
b
Comatose at the time the survey was done or within the preceding 12 months.
c
Thirty-eight coma cases in 35 individuals as 2 had been comatose more than once.
d
Because this was a survey, we inquired about gender (i.e. male, female, other) which is a social construct, as opposed to biological sex.
e
Three episodes in one individual.
f
Two episodes in one individual.
g
Hypo-/hyperglycaemia, systemic infections, liver or kidney failure, brain infections and brain tumours.
h
As defined by survey participants (‘functional independence’ versus non-independence).