Abstract
Background:
The impact of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders on outcomes has not been systematically evaluated in Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH).
Hypothesis:
We assessed the impact of DNR orders in ICH and its association to mortality/related adverse outcomes.
Methods:
We reviewed the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project’s Nationwide Inpatient Sample(NIS) database of 2011 for ICH using ICD 9-CM codes(431).This represents 20% of all US hospital patients and weighted numbers represent national estimates. We defined patients’ DNR status with ICD code V49.86 and comorbid conditions by Deyo’s modification of Charlson’s Comorbidity Index (CCI). We only included adult patients in our analysis. Our primary outcomes of interest were in-hospital mortality and adverse outcome (composite of mortality & discharge other than home). We utilized chi-square test for univariable analysis for categorical variables and generated hierarchical multilevel regression models to determine independent predictors of mortality and adverse outcome.
Results:
We analyzed a total of 13440 pts (weighted n= 64617) with ICH of which 2029 (weighted n=9713) patients had DNR status. The proportions of mortality (56% vs. 19%, p<0.001) and adverse outcome(89% vs 70%) were higher in patients with DNR orders. Even after adjusting for confounders (demographics, Deyo’s modification of charlson’s co-morbidity index, admission type (elective vs emergent), hospital region, hospital teaching status, hospital ICH volume and primary payer), DNR status was associated with higher in hospital mortality (OR 6.98, 95% CI 6.58-7.41), p<0.001) and higher odds of adverse outcome (OR 3.98, 95% CI 3.64-4.34, p<0.001).
Conclusion:
DNR status in patients admitted with ICH appears to be a independent and significant predictor of substantially increased hospital mortality and adverse outcomes. The reasons for this are multifactorial and likely involve patient as well as systematic factors.Further studies including both quantitative/qualitative aspects are warranted to investigate these factors in detail.