Table 5 Factors that influenced the decision to withhold CPR, ranked by impact
From: End-of-life decisions in Greek intensive care units: a multicenter cohort study
Factor | Impact on the decision | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â | No | Little | Moderate | Much | Ultimate |
Unresponsiveness to treatment already offered | 33 (23) | 0 (0) | 7 (5) | 11 (8) | 90 (64) |
Prognosis of underlying chronic disease | 17 (12) | 3 (2) | 6 (4) | 29 (21) | 86 (61) |
Prognosis of acute illness | 33 (23) | 8 (6) | 17 (12) | 24 (17) | 59 (42) |
Future poor health | 67 (48) | 8 (6) | 14 (10) | 17 (12) | 35 (25) |
Preexisting poor health | 74 (52) | 12 (9) | 11 (8) | 17 (12) | 27 (19) |
Age (years) | 96 (68) | 14 (10) | 7 (5) | 6 (4) | 18 (13) |
Aggressiveness of treatment, discomfort disproportionate to expected benefit | 95 (67) | 19 (13) | 5 (4) | 10 (7) | 12 (9) |
Physical and psychological pain | 81 (57) | 17 (12) | 14 (10) | 16 (11) | 13 (9) |
Emotion/conscience | 108 (77) | 14 (10) | 12 (9) | 0 (0) | 7 (5) |
Relatives' opinion | 120 (85) | 9 (6) | 6 (4) | 2 (1) | 4 (3) |
Physician's religious beliefs | 118 (84) | 9 (6) | 10 (7) | 4 (3) | 0 (0) |
Economic cost | 129 (91) | 7 (5) | 4 (3) | 0 (0) | 1 (1) |
Patient's will | 134 (95) | 3 (2) | 4 (3) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
Lack of ICU beds | 134 (95) | 5 (4) | 1 (1) | 0 (0) | 1 (1) |