Table 1 Baseline characteristics of deceased patients according to the EOL decision
Variables | DNR (n = 105) | Withholding (n = 108) | Withdrawal (n = 70) | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Age (years) | 73 (62–81) | 75 (64–82.5) | 70.5 (59–78) | 0.172 |
Male, n (%) | 69 (65.7) | 70 (64.8) | 48 (68.6) | 0.871 |
Body mass index (kg/m2) | 20.9 (18.5–24.5) | 21.9 (19.6–24.2) | 21.9 (18.9–23.8) | 0.728 |
Comorbidities, n (%) | ||||
 Diabetes | 24 (22.9) | 36 (33.3) | 21 (30.0) | 0.229 |
 Cardiovascular disease | 31 (29.5) | 19 (17.6) | 17 (24.3) | 0.122 |
 Chronic lung disease | 19 (18.1) | 10 (9.3) | 15 (21.4) | 0.060 |
 Chronic neurological disease | 26 (24.8) | 38 (35.2) | 16 (22.9) | 0.123 |
 Chronic kidney disease | 23 (21.9) | 18 (16.7) | 8 (11.4) | 0.195 |
 Chronic liver disease | 10 (9.5) | 9 (8.3) | 14 (20.0) | 0.042 |
 Hematological malignancy | 17 (16.2) | 14 (13.0) | 15 (21.4) | 0.327 |
 Solid malignant tumors | 34 (32.4) | 50 (46.3) | 38 (54.3) | 0.011 |
 Connective tissue disease | 3 (2.9) | 5 (4.6) | 1 (1.4) | 0.530 |
 Immunocompromized | 11 (10.5) | 12 (11.1) | 3 (4.3) | 0.259 |
Reasons for admission, n (%) |  |  |  | 0.059 |
 Diagnostic work-up | 16 (15.2) | 9 (8.3) | 6 (8.6) |  |
 Medical disease treatment | 69 (65.7) | 80 (74.1) | 52 (74.3) |  |
 Elective operation | 8 (7.6) | 9 (8.3) | 11 (15.7) |  |
 Emergency operation | 12 (11.4) | 10 (9.3) | 1 (1.4) |  |
Charlson Comorbidity Index | 5 (4–7) | 6 (5–8) | 6 (5–8) | 0.023 |
Clinical Frailty Scale | 6 (4–7) | 6 (4–8) | 6 (4–7) | 0.562 |
SOFA score | 6 (4–10) | 5 (3–9) | 6 (4–9) | 0.515 |
Location of diagnosis, n (%) |  |  |  | 0.386 |
 General ward | 74 (70.5) | 85 (78.7) | 52 (74.3) |  |
 ICU | 31 (29.5) | 23 (21.3) | 18 (25.7) |  |
Artificial airway, n (%) | 31 (29.5) | 21 (19.4) | 14 (20.0) | 0.165 |
Tube feeding, n (%) | 40 (38.1) | 38 (35.2) | 21 (30.0) | 0.545 |
Impaired consciousness, n (%) | 52 (49.5) | 41 (38.0) | 21 (30.0) | 0.030 |
Impaired cough, n (%) | 40 (38.1) | 41 (38.0) | 11 (15.7) | 0.003 |
Sepsis, n (%) | 78 (74.3) | 78 (72.2) | 43 (61.4) | 0.163 |
Ventilator-associated pneumonia, n (%) | 26 (24.8) | 16 (14.8) | 12 (17.1) | 0.162 |
MDR pathogens, n (%) | 47 (44.8) | 34 (31.5) | 15 (21.4) | 0.005 |
ICU admission, n (%) | 45 (42.9) | 38 (35.2) | 17 (24.3) | 0.042 |
Hospital length of stay, days | 29 (18–51) | 33 (21–51) | 33.5 (21–59) | 0.267 |
Onset of HAP to death, days | 10 (5–25) | 14 (6–26) | 18.5 (7–43) | 0.036 |
30-day mortality, n (%) | 85 (81.0) | 85 (78.7) | 44 (62.9) | 0.015 |
60-day mortality, n (%) | 100 (95.2) | 97 (89.8) | 60 (85.7) | 0.092 |