• Carolin Fleischmann-Struzek, Anna Mikolajetz, Konrad Reinhart, Randall J Curtis, Ulrike Haase, Daniel Thomas-Rüddel, Ulf Dennler, and Christiane S Hartog.
• Center for Sepsis Control and Care, University Hospital Jena; Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Jena; BIH Guest Professorship/Charité Foundation, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité University Medical Center, Berlin; Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité University Medical Center, Berlin; Medical Controlling Division, Munich Hospital; Bavaria Hospital, Kreischa.
• Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2019 Sep 27; 116 (39): 653660653-660.

BackgroundGermany has more intensive care unit (ICU) beds per capita than the USA, but the utilization of these resources at the end of life is unknown.MethodsRetrospective observational study using nationwide German hospital discharge data (DRG statistics; DRG, diag- nosis-related groups) from 2007 to 2015. We investigated hospital deaths and use of intensive care services during terminal hospitalizations. Population-based incidences were standardized to the age and sex distribution of the German population.ResultsStandardized hospital admission rates increased by 0.8% annually (from 201.9 to 214.6 per 1000 population), while hospital admissions involving ICU care increased by 3.0% annually (from 6.5 to 8.2 per 1000 population). Among all deaths in the German population, the proportion of hospital deaths with ICU care increased by 2.3% annually (from 9.8% to 11.8%). Among all hospital deaths, the proportion involving ICU care increased by 2.8% annually from 20.6% (2007) to 25.6% (2015). In patients aged 65 and older, the use of intensive care services during terminal hospitalizations increased 3 times faster than hospital deaths.ConclusionUse of intensive care services during terminal hospitalizations increased across all age groups, particularly the elderly. The increased need for end-of-life care in the ICU calls for improvements in educational, policy, and reimbursement strategies. It is unclear whether ICU care was appropriate and compliant with patient preferences.

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