Table 2 Known patients’ preferences regarding life-sustaining treatments at referral to the ED for an acute geriatric assessment. The study population is split by type of referrer. For patients for whom preferences were known, the frequencies of the individual preferences are presented

Referred by elderly care physician, N = 69

Referred by GP, N = 279

Total, N = 348

Patients for whom at least one preference is known; N (%)

61 (88.4)

97 (34.8)

158 (45.4)

Referred by elderly care physician, N = 61

Referred by GP, N = 97

Total, N = 158

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) known; N (%)

61 (100)

97 (100)

158 (100)

When known, preference ‘yes’; N

4

10

14

Invasive ventilation known; N (%)

27 (44.3)

32 (33.0)

59 (37.3)

When known, preference ‘yes’; N

3

7

10

Admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) known; N (%)

17 (27.9)

19 (19.6)

36 (22.8)

When known, preference ‘yes’; N

3

7

10

Admission to the coronary care unit (CCU) known; N (%)

6 (9.8)

8 (8.2)

14 (8.9)

When known, preference ‘yes’; N

2

7

9

Dialysis known; N (%)

3 (4.9)

6 (6.2)

(5.7)

When known, preference ‘yes’; N

2

6

8

Defibrillation known; N (%)

3 (4.9)

6 (6.2)

9 (5.7)

When known, preference ‘yes’; N

2

6

8

Only comfort-focused care (no life-prolonging treatments) known; N (%)

2 (3.3)

4 (4.1)

6 (3.8)

When known, preference ‘yes’; N

0

3

3

Other preferences, including blood transfusion and antibiotics known; N (%)

1 (1.6)

0 (0.0)-

1 (0.6)

When known, preference ‘yes’; N

0

–

0