Interpreting survival rates for the treatment of decompensated diabetes: are we saving too many lives?
Discussion of the case of a patient admitted to hospital with decompensated diabetes revealed a conflict in attitudes to resuscitation of the patient from that disorder and from cardiac arrest. A survey was sent to 200 diabetologists and 200 cardiologists in the United Kingdom, asking about their management of diabetes and their therapeutic approaches to cardiac arrest for 3 elderly patients admitted with severe decompensated diabetes. The response rate was poor (27%) but the answers showed that all 3 patients were more likely to be resuscitated from decompensated diabetes than from cardiac arrest. Possible reasons for a different approach to the two conditions are discussed, and suggestions are put forward for a greater involvement by patients in decisions about future resuscitation.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003657:Decision Making; D003926:Diabetic Coma / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012151:Resuscitation; D012307:Risk Factors