Figure 10. Percent of Patients Choosing Selected Treatments in Hypothetical Scenarios of Terminal Illness

Advance Care Planning: Preferences for Care at the End of Life

Bar graphs showing percent of patients in 2 age groups choosing 6 different treatments in hypothetical scenarios of terminal illness; go to [D] text description for details.

Text Description

Percent of patients age 75 and over or ages 50-74^a choosing hospitalization in a hypothetical scenario of terminal illness: 58.
Percent of patients ages 65-99^b choosing hospitalization in a hypothetical scenario of terminal illness: 47.

Percent of patients age 75 and over or ages 50-74^a choosing intensive care in a hypothetical scenario of terminal illness: 49.
Percent of patients ages 65-99^b choosing intensive care in a hypothetical scenario of terminal illness: 34.

Percent of patients age 75 and over or ages 50-74^a choosing cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a hypothetical scenario of terminal illness: 44.
Percent of patients ages 65-99^b choosing cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a hypothetical scenario of terminal illness: 27.

Percent of patients age 75 and over or ages 50-74^a choosing artificial nutrition/hydration in a hypothetical scenario of terminal illness: 37.
Percent of patients ages 65-99^b choosing artificial nutrition/hydration in a hypothetical scenario of terminal illness: 18.

Percent of patients age 75 and over or ages 50-74^a choosing ventilation in a hypothetical scenario of terminal illness: 27.
Percent of patients ages 65-99^b choosing ventilation in a hypothetical scenario of terminal illness: 19.

Percent of patients age 75 and over or ages 50-74^a choosing surgery in a hypothetical scenario of terminal illness: 15.
Percent of patients ages 65-99^b choosing surgery in a hypothetical scenario of terminal illness: 24.

^a Patients were age 75 and over or ages 50-74 with congestive heart failure, ischemic heart disease, cancer, chronic lung disease, stroke or transient ischemic attacks, chronic renal insufficiency or chronic liver disease.
Source: Gramelspacher GP, Zhou X, Hanna MP, et al. Preferences of physicians and their patients for end-of-life care. J Gen Intern Med 1997;12:346-51.

^b Patients were ages 65-99: 14 percent with no major illness, 19 percent with minor chronic illness, 50 percent with major chronic illness, and 15 percent with severe chronic illness or advanced cancer.
Source: Garrett JM, Harris RP, Norburn JK, et al. Life-sustaining treatments during terminal illness. Who wants what? J Gen Intern Med 1993;8(7):361-8.

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Current as of March 2003

Internet Citation: Figure 10. Percent of Patients Choosing Selected Treatments in Hypothetical Scenarios of Terminal Illness: Advance Care Planning: Preferences for Care at the End of Life. March 2003. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/factsheets/aging/endliferia/endfig10.html