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Table 3 Characteristics of the patients’ perceived to be receiving ‘inappropriate care’

From: Perceptions of the appropriateness of care in California adult intensive care units

 

Numerator/

denominator (percentage)a

Female gender

331/656 (50.5)

Age

 

 18-45

71/664 (10.7)

 46-65

159/664 (24.0)

 66-79

228/664 (34.3)

 >80

206/664 (31.0)

Days in the ICU

 

 0-7 days

329/664 (49.6)

 8-29 days

226/664 (34.0)

 >30 days

109/664 (16.4)

Main clinical reason for admission

 

 Sepsis

254/622 (40.8)

 Trauma

30/622 (4.8)

 Neurological disease

75/622 (12.1)

 Cardiac disease

80/622 (12.9)

 Post-operative monitoring

28/622 (4.5)

 Other

155/622 (24.9)

Functional status prior to ICU admission

 

 Able to carry out normal activities

199/616 (32.3)

 Able to live at home but needs some assistance

182/616 (29.6)

 Unable to care for self, needs institutional support

235/616 (38.2)

Moderate-severe comorbidities prior to admission

 

 None

115/665 (17.3)

 Heart failure

250/665 (37.6)

 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

162/665 (24.4)

 Dementia

143/665 (21.5)

 Active metastatic cancer

118/665 (17.7)

 Other

16/665 (2.4)

Current ICU level interventions

 

 Mechanical ventilation

408/665 (61.3)

 Vasopressors

282/665 (42.4)

 Dialysis

163/665 (24.5)

 Massive transfusion

160/665 (24.1)

 None

160/665 (24.1)

Estimate of the patient’s illness trajectory

 

 Uncertain prognosis

113/624 (18.1)

 Patient likely to improve

203/624 (32.5)

 Patient unlikely to survive despite treatment

308/624 (49.4)

Advanced directive at admission to the ICU (Yes)

153/561 (27.3)

Family meeting occurred (Yes)

350/577 (60.6)

  1. aAll data are shown as number/total number (percentage) or median (interquartile range). Owing to rounding, percentages may not sum to 100%. Denominators may differ because of missing data. ICU, intensive care unit.