Effect of advance directives on the management of elderly critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of advance directives on the management of elderly, critically ill patients.
DESIGN: Retrospective chart review.
SETTING: Teaching hospital medical/surgical, noncardiac intensive care unit (ICU). PATIENTS: The medical records of 401 patients, > or =65 yrs of age, admitted to the ICU between 1992 and 1995 were reviewed.
INTERVENTIONS: None.
MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Advance directive statements included refusal of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), nutrition, intravenous medications, antibiotics, mechanical ventilation, and blood products. Nineteen (5%) patients had advance directives (study group). These patients were compared with 28 case-matched (age, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, and diagnosis) critically ill patients without advance directives (control group). We compared the following data: cost per day; number of surgical procedures; number of radiographic studies; number of central venous and pulmonary artery catheter insertions; number of complete blood counts, electrolytes, and cultures sent for laboratory testing; number of days in the ICU/hospital; and mortality rates. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student's t-test for independent means and the chi-square equation. For all observed parameters, quantitative and dichotomous differences between study and control groups were not statistically significant. Two patients received CPR, despite advance directive statements refusing this treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: Few critically ill seniors have advance directives. As assessed by objectively documented information, the level of care delivered to elderly ICU patients is not affected by the presence or absence of advance directive statements. Medical personnel need to be aware of whether or not patients have advance directive statements, as unauthorized CPR was administered to 11% of the patients who died with advance directives.