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

Figure 10. Percent of Patients Choosing Selected Treatments in Hypothe

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

^aPatients 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.

^bPatients 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.

Return to Section 1
Return to Section 2