Variations in end-of-life care practices in older critically ill patients with COVID-19 in Europe

Prevalence of life-sustaining treatment limitations in Polish very old intensive care patients (VIPs). A post-hoc analysis of two prospective observational studies

PURPOSE

Several initiatives have recently focused on raising awareness about limitations of treatment in Poland. We aimed to assess if the propensity to limit LST among elderly patients in 2018-2019 increased compared to 2016-2017.

METHODS

We analysed Polish cohorts from studies VIP1 (October 2016 - May 2017) and VIP2 (May 2018 - May 2019) that enrolled critical patients aged >80. We collected data on demographics, clinical features limitations of LST. Primary analysis assessed factors associated with prevalence of limitations of LST, A secondary analysis explored differences between patients with and without limitations of LST.

RESULTS

601 patients were enrolled. Prevalence of LST limitations was 16.1% in 2016-2017 and 20.5% in 2018-2019. No difference was found in univariate analysis (p = 0.22), multivariable model showed higher propensity towards limiting LST in the 2018-2019 cohort compared to 2016-2017 cohort (OR 1.07;95%CI, 1.01-1.14). There was higher mortality and a longer length of stay of patients with limitations of LST compared to the patients without limitations of LST. (11 vs. 6 days, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The clinicians in Poland have become more proactive in limiting LST in critically ill patients ≥80 years old over the studied period, however the prevalence of limitations of LST in Poland remains low.

Challenges of using body bags for COVID-19 deaths from the healthcare provider perspective - a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

During the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous issues regarding end-of-life care for COVID-19 patients have been discussed. Among these issues, challenges related to the use of body bags following the death of COVID-19 patients have been suggested. This study aimed to identify the challenges faced by healthcare professionals (HCPs) when using body bags after the death of patients infected with COVID-19 in medical settings.

METHODS

We conducted a qualitative descriptive study with semistructured in-depth interviews using inductive thematic analysis. From August to December 2021, we interviewed nurses and doctors who provided end-of-life care to COVID-19 patients focusing on their experiences with the use of body bags for the deceased.

RESULTS

Of the 25 interviewees who mentioned body bag use, 14 were nurses (56%) and 13 were women (52%). The mean interview length was 52.0 min (SD 9.6 min). Challenges associated with body bag use were classified into four themes with eight categories: preserving the dignity of the deceased, consideration for the bereaved saying a final goodbye to a loved one in a body bag, the physical and emotional impact on HCPs, and diverse opinions on body bag use.

CONCLUSION

Our findings include ethical concerns about the dignity of the deceased, empathy for the grief of bereaved families, and the emotional and physical distress experienced by HCPs struggling with the recommendation to use body bags based on limited evidence. The diverse perspectives of HCPs in this study highlight potential issues that developers should consider when formulating more appropriate and acceptable guidelines/guidance and policies.

Predictors of outcomes of patients ≥ 80 years old admitted to intensive care units in Poland - a post-hoc analysis of the VIP2 prospective observational study

INTRODUCTION

Elderly patients pose a significant challenge to intensive care unit (ICU) clinicians. In this study we attempted to characterise the population of patients over 80 years old admitted to ICUs in Poland and identify associations between clinical features and short-term outcomes.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study is a post-hoc analysis of the Polish cohort of the VIP2 European prospective observational study enrolling patients > 80 years old admitted to ICUs over a 6-month period. Data including clinical features, clinical frailty scale (CFS), geriatric scales, interventions within the ICU, and outcomes (30-day and ICU mortality and length of stay) were gathered. Univariate analyses comparing frail (CFS > 4) to non-frail patients and survivors to non-survivors were performed. Multivariable models with CFS, activities of daily living score (ADL), and the cognitive decline questionnaire IQCODE as predictors and ICU or 30-day mortality as outcomes were formed.

RESULTS

A total of 371 patients from 27 ICUs were enrolled. Frail patients had significantly higher ICU (58% vs. 44.45%, P = 0.03) and 30-day (65.61% vs. 54.14%, P = 0.01) mortality compared to non-frail counterparts. The survivors had significantly lower SOFA score, CFS, ADL, and IQCODE than non-survivors. In multivariable analysis CFS (OR 1.15, 95% CI: 1.00-1.34) and SOFA score (OR 1.29, 95% CI: 1.19-1.41) were identified as significant predictors for ICU mortality; however, CFS was not a predictor for 30-day mortality ( P = 0.07). No statistical significance was found for ADL, IQCODE, polypharmacy, or comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a positive correlation between CFS and ICU mortality, which might point to the value of assessing the score for every patient admitted to the ICU. The older Polish ICU patients were characterised by higher mortality compared to the other European countries.

End-of-life decision-making in critically ill old patients with and without coronavirus disease 2019

BACKGROUND

There are few studies on the differences in end-of-life decisions making in critically ill patients with and without coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to investigate the independent factors that predicted the decision to withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatments (LST) in critically ill patients and if these decisions were based on different variables for critically ill patients with COVID-19 compared to those for critically ill patients with other diagnoses in a Swedish intensive care unit.

METHODS

This observational pilot study was performed at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Patients ≥65 years were included from 1 March 2020 to 30 April 2021. The association between a decision to limit LST and a priori selected variables including sex, age, Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 (SAPS 3), Clinical Frailty Scale ≥4, Charlson Comorbidity Index, Body Mass Index, living at home, invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation was assessed using a univariate and multivariable logistic regression model and presented as odds ratio with corresponding 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

There were 394 patients included in this study, 131 in the non-COVID-19 group and 263 in the COVID-19 group. For the non-COVID-19 cohort, the univariate analysis demonstrated that age and SAPS 3 were significantly associated with the decision to withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatments, and this association remained in the multivariable analysis, with odds ratios of 1.10 (1.03-1.19) p = .009 and 1.06 (1.03-1.10) p < .001, respectively. For the COVID-19 cohort, the univariate analysis indicated that age, SAPS 3, and Charlson comorbidity index were significantly associated with the decision to withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatments. However, in multivariable analysis, only the Charlson comorbidity index remained independently associated with the decision to withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatments, with an odds ratio of 1.26 (1.07-1.49), p = .006.

CONCLUSION

Decisions to withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatments were based on other variables for the critically ill COVID-19 cohort compared to those for the critically ill non-COVID-19 cohort. Further studies are warranted to forge a common path for ethical end-of-life decision-making in critically ill patients.

Limiting life-sustaining treatment for very old ICU patients: cultural challenges and diverse practices

BACKGROUND

Decisions about life-sustaining therapy (LST) in the intensive care unit (ICU) depend on predictions of survival as well as the expected functional capacity and self-perceived quality of life after discharge, especially in very old patients. However, prognostication for individual patients in this cohort is hampered by substantial uncertainty which can lead to a large variability of opinions and, eventually, decisions about LST. Moreover, decision-making processes are often embedded in a framework of ethical and legal recommendations which may vary between countries resulting in divergent management strategies.

METHODS

Based on a vignette scenario of a multi-morbid 87-year-old patient, this article illustrates the spectrum of opinions about LST among intensivsts with a special interest in very old patients, from ten countries/regions, representing diverse cultures and healthcare systems.

RESULTS

This survey of expert opinions and national recommendations demonstrates shared principles in the management of very old ICU patients. Some guidelines also acknowledge cultural differences between population groups. Although consensus with families should be sought, shared decision-making is not formally required or practised in all countries.

CONCLUSIONS

This article shows similarities and differences in the decision-making for LST in very old ICU patients and recommends strategies to deal with prognostic uncertainty. Conflicts should be anticipated in situations where stakeholders have different cultural beliefs. There is a need for more collaborative research and training in this field.

Confronted With Death: Factors Affecting End of Life Decisions in the Intensive Care Unit

To determine how often care is limited at the end of life and the factors that are associated with this decision, we reviewed the medical records of all patients that passed away in the intensive care units (ICU) of Aga Khan University. We found that a majority of patients had Do-Not-Resuscitate orders in place at the time of death. Our analysis yielded 6 variables that were associated with the decision to limit care. These are patient age, sex, duration of mechanical ventilation, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≤8 at any point during ICU stay, GCS ≤8 in the first 24 hours following ICU admission, and mean arterial pressure <65 mm of Hg while on vasopressors in the first 24 hours following ICU admission. These variables require further study and should be carefully considered during end of life discussions to allow for optimal management at the end of life.

Long-term temporal trends in incidence rate and case fatality of sepsis and COVID-19-related sepsis in Norwegian hospitals, 2008-2021: a nationwide registry study

OBJECTIVES

To estimate temporal trends in incidence rate (IR) and case fatality during a 14-year period from 2008 to 2021, and to assess possible shifts in these trends during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SETTING

All Norwegian hospitals 2008-2021.

PARTICIPANTS

317 705 patients ≥18 year with a sepsis International Classification of Diseases 10th revision code retrieved from The Norwegian Patient Registry.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY MEASURES

Annual age-standardised IRs with 95% CIs. Poisson regression was used to estimate changes in IRs across time, and logistic regression was used to estimate ORs for in-hospital death.

RESULTS

Among 12 619 803 adult hospitalisations, a total of 317 705 (2.5%) hospitalisations in 222 832 (70.0%) unique patients met the sepsis criteria. The overall age-standardised IR of a first sepsis admission was 246/100 000 (95% CI 245 to 247), whereas the age-standardised IR of all sepsis admissions was 352/100 000 (95% CI 351 to 354). In the period 2009-2019, the annual IR for a first sepsis episode was stable (IR ratio (IRR) per year, 0.999; 95% CI 0.994 to 1.004), whereas for recurrent sepsis the IR increased (annual IRR, 1.048; 95% CI 1.037 to 1.059). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRR for a first sepsis was 0.877 (95% CI 0.829 to 0.927) in 2020 and 0.929 (95% CI 0.870 to 0.992) in 2021, and for all sepsis it was 0.870 (95% CI 0.810 to 0.935) in 2020 and 0.908 (95% CI 0.840 to 0.980) in 2021, compared with the previous 11-year period. Case fatality among first sepsis admissions declined in the period 2009-2019 (annual OR 0.954 (95% CI 0.950 to 0.958)), whereas case fatality increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 (OR 1.061 (95% CI 1.001 to 1.124) and in 2021 (OR 1.164 (95% CI 1.098 to 1.233)).

CONCLUSION

The overall IR of sepsis increased from 2009 to 2019, due to an increasing IR of recurrent sepsis, and indicates that sepsis awareness with updated guidelines and education must continue.

Associations of anemia and blood transfusions with mortality in old, critically ill COVID-19 patients - Results from the prospective COVIP Study

AIMS

Anemia is common in the old and often observed in critically ill patients. Increased age is associated with higher mortality following a COVID-19 infection, making old patients prone to poor outcomes. We investigated whether anemia at admission to the ICU or the need for blood transfusion was associated with 90-day mortality in older, critically ill COVID-19 patients.

METHODS

In this prospective multicenter study, the 90-day mortality of COVID-19 patients≥70 years treated in 138 intensive care units (ICU) was analyzed. Associations between anemia (WHO definition) at admission and discharge from ICU and the use of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions with mortality were assessed. Hemoglobin thresholds of RBC transfusions in old, critically ill COVID-19 patients were recorded.

RESULTS

In 493 patients (350 anemic, 143 non-anemic), anemia (WHO definition) at the time of ICU admission was not associated with impaired overall survival. Transfusion and severe anemia (hemoglobin≤10 g/dL) at ICU discharge were independently associated with a higher risk of 90-day mortality.

CONCLUSION

The need for red blood cell transfusions and severe anemia at ICU discharge, but not at the timepoint of admission, were independently associated with 90-day mortality in critically-ill old COVID-19 patients.