Physician preferences for medical interventions in elderly patients.
OBJECTIVE
To identify factors influencing medical decision making in the elderly based on differences in age, cognition, and function.


METHODS
Physicians were given a clinical scenario and asked to select from three management options based on the patients' characteristics.


RESULTS
Eighty-six percent would offer aggressive management to patients less than 85 years of age, whereas only 47.2% would offer similar care to those over 85 years of age (RR 0.5; 95% CI: 0.4-0.7). Physicians were less likely to offer aggressive management for patients with dementia (RR 0.2; 95% CI: 0.1-0.6), and for those requiring home assistance (RR: 0.2; 95% CI: 0.1-0.6) compared to those without dementia or functional limitations.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians are more likely to deny aggressive management to functionally active adults over 85 years of age, and to those with dementia or functional impairment irrespective of age.
Barrantes
Fidel
F
Department of Medicine, Bridgeport Hospital, Yale New Haven Health, Bridgeport 06610, USA.
Argento
Vivian
V
Skudlarska
Beata
B
Amoateng-Adjepong
Yaw
Y
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003657:Decision Making; D003704:Dementia / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010820:Physicians; D016079:Refusal to Treat; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires