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Reflection on stroke deaths and end‐of‐life stroke care
Author(s) -
Quadri Syed Z.,
Huynh Thang,
CappelenSmith Cecilia,
Wijesuriya Nirupama,
Mamun Abul,
Beran Roy G.,
McDougall Alan J.,
Cordato Dennis
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1111/imj.13619
Subject(s) - medicine , palliative care , referral , interquartile range , stroke (engine) , end of life care , advance care planning , emergency medicine , retrospective cohort study , neurosurgery , acute hospital , cohort , pediatrics , intensive care medicine , health care , family medicine , surgery , nursing , mechanical engineering , engineering , economics , economic growth
Abstract Background The benefit of palliative care referral for severe stroke patients on end‐of‐life care pathway (EOLCP) is increasingly recognised. Palliative care provides assistance with symptom management and transition to end‐of‐life care. Advance care planning (ACP) may help accommodate patient/family expectations and guide management. Methods This is a retrospective study of all stroke deaths (2014–2015) at Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, Australia. Data examined included age, comorbidities, living arrangements, pre‐existing ACP, palliative care referral rates and ‘survival time’. Results In total, 123 patient (mean age ± SD = 76 ± 13 years) deaths were identified from 1067 stroke admissions (11.5% mortality); 64 (52%) patients had ischaemic stroke and 59 (48%) intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), and 40% suffered a prior stroke, and 43% required a carer at home or were in an aged care facility. Survival time from admission was significantly longer in patients with ischaemic stroke compared to intracerebral haemorrhage (median, interquartile range [IQR]: 9.5 [18] vs 2 [4] days, P < 0.001). Only two patients had pre‐existing ACP; 44% of patients were referred to palliative care and 41% were commenced on dedicated EOLCP. Palliative care referral was less likely in patients who died under neurosurgery. EOLCP were significantly less likely to be commenced in patients who underwent acute intervention or were not referred to palliative care. Conclusion In this cohort, palliative care referral and EOLCP were commenced in less than 50% of patients, highlighting significant variations in clinical care. These data support the need to promote awareness of ACP, particularly in patients with prior stroke or significant comorbidities. This may help reduce potentially futile invasive investigations and treatment.