Cardiopulmonary resuscitation directives on admission to intensive-care unit: an international observational study.
BACKGROUND
Resuscitation directives should be a sign of patient's preference. Our objective was to ascertain prevalence, predictors, and procurement pattern of cardiopulmonary resuscitation directives within 24 h of admission to the intensive-care unit (ICU).


METHODS
We enrolled 2916 patients aged 18 years and older from 15 ICUs in four countries, and recorded whether, when, and by whom their cardiopulmonary resuscitation directives were established. By polychotomous logistic regression we identified factors associated with a resuscitate or do-not-resuscitate directive.


RESULTS
Of 2916 patients, 318 (11%; 95% CI 9.8-12.1) had an explicit resuscitation directive. In 159 (50%; 44.4-55.6) patients, the directive was do-not-resuscitate. Directives were established by residents for 145 (46%; 40.0-51.3) patients. Age strongly predicted do-not-resuscitate directives: for 50-64, 65-74, and 75 years and older, odds ratios were 3.4 (95% CI 1.6-7.3), 4.4 (2.2-9.2), and 8.8 (4.4-17.8), respectively. APACHE II scores greater than 20 predicted resuscitate and do-not-resuscitate directives in a similar way. An explicit directive was likely for patients admitted at night (odds ratio 1.4 [1.0-1.9] and 1.6 [1.2-2.3] for resuscitate and do-not-resuscitate, respectively) and during weekends (1.9 [1.3-2.7] and 2.2 [1.5-3.2], respectively). Inability to make a decision raised the likelihood of a do-not-resuscitate (3.7 [2.6-5.4]) than a resuscitate (1.7 [1.2-2.3]) directive (p=0.0005). Within Canada and the USA, cities differed strikingly, as did centres within cities.


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation directives established within 24 h of admission to ICU are uncommon. As well as clinical factors, timing and location of admission might determine rate and nature of resuscitation directives.
Cook
D J
DJ
Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Ontario, Hamilton, Canada. debcook@mcmaster.ca
Guyatt
G
G
Rocker
G
G
Sjokvist
P
P
Weaver
B
B
Dodek
P
P
Marshall
J
J
Leasa
D
D
Levy
M
M
Varon
J
J
Fisher
M
M
Cook
R
R
D018806:APACHE; D016223:Advance Directives / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016638:Critical Illness; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D038622:Internationality; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged