Table 2 Possible indicators of transition to palliative care
From: End-of-life decisions in acute stroke patients: an observational cohort study
Variable | Patients transitioned to palliative care (n = 40) | Patients not transitioned to palliative care (n = 77) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
Age (mean, standard deviation) | 83.2 +/-8.2y | 81.1+/-8.6y | 0.194 |
Diagnosis | |||
Ischemic stroke | 26 (65 %) | 59 (76.6 %) | 0.132 |
Intracranial hemorrhage | 14 (35 %) | 18 (23.4 %) | |
Localisation | |||
supratentorial | 35 (87.5 %) | 69 (89.6 %) | 0.762 |
infratentorial | 5 (12.5 %) | 8 (10.4 %) | |
Hemisphere | |||
dominant | 14 (35.0 %) | 30 (39.0 %) | |
non-dominant | 17 (42.5 %) | 39 (50.6 %) | 0.209 |
bihemispheric | 9 (22.5 %) | 8 (10.4 %) | |
Stroke volume | |||
Ischemia >2/3 ACM, total ACA or total | 22/26 (84.6 %) | 33/59 (55.9 %) | 0.009 |
ACP territory | |||
ICH > 60 ml | 14/14 (100 %) | 14/18 (77.8 %) | 0.085 |
NIHSS at admission | |||
median (range) | 19.5 (4-26) | 19 (0-28) | 0.115 |
16 and higher | 29 (72.5 %) | 51 (66.2 %) | 0.317 |
Item 1a (Level of consciousness) >0 | 17 (42.5 %) | 18 (23.4 %) | 0.028 |
Dysphagia assessment on day 1 | |||
Normal | 4/33 (12.1 %) | 18/70 (25.7 %) | |
Mild to moderate | 15/33 (45.5 %) | 36/70 (51.4 %) | 0.026 |
Severe | 14/33 (42.4 %) | 16/70 (22.9 %) | |
Advance directive | |||
Living will | 15 (37.5 %) | 24 (31.2 %) | 0.538 |
Power of attorney for health care | 20 (50 %) | 25 (32.5 %) | 0.074 |
Legal guardian | 3 (7.5 %) | 8 (10.5 %) | 0.747 |
Pre-mRS (median, range) | 2 (0–5) | 2 (0–5) | 0.578 |
Dementia | 7 (17.5 %) | 11 (14.3 %) | 0.418 |