Abstract
Background:
Non-traumatic Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a life-threatening condition associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders have recently linked to poor outcomes in ICH patients probably due to the inactive management associated with these orders.
Hypothesis:
We tested the hypothesis that demographic, regional and social factors not related to ICH severity are significant predictors of DNR utilization.
Methods:
We reviewed the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2011-2012 for ICH admissions in patients >18 years using the ICD 9-CM code 431. We defined DNR status with ICD code - V49.86 entered during the same admission as a secondary diagnosis and estimated severity of illness by the 3M™ All Patient Refined DRG (APR DRG) classification System. A hierarchical two level multivariate regression model were generated to estimate odds ratios (OR) for predictors of DNR utilization and discrimination power of models was assessed using C statistics. We considered a two tailed p value of <0.01 to be significant.
Results:
We analyzed 25768 pts (weighted estimate 126254) with ICH out of which 4620 (18%) pts (weighted estimate 22668) had DNR orders placed. In multivariable regression analysis, female gender (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.2-1.3), Ethnicity [White(OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.5-1.7) and Hispanic(OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.3) compared to Black], Insurance [Medicare (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.1-1.2) and self or no pay (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.0-1.2) compared to private insurance], Hospital location [West (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.1) compared to North-East ] were significantly associated with high DNR utilization rates after adjusting for patient level, hospital level characteristics, APR DRG severity scale and other clinical characteristics.
Conclusions:
In conclusion, demographic (female gender/ethnicity), social (insurance status) and regional (hospital location) are significantly associated with increased DNR utilization. The reasons for this are likely multifactorial, qualitative, linked to both patient and provider practices and need to be explored in more detail.