Articles: palliative-care.
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Observational Study
Derivation and performance of an end-of-life practice score aimed at interpreting worldwide treatment-limiting decisions in the critically ill.
Limitations of life-sustaining interventions in intensive care units (ICUs) exhibit substantial changes over time, and large, contemporary variation across world regions. We sought to determine whether a weighted end-of-life practice score can explain a large, contemporary, worldwide variation in limitation decisions. ⋯ Comparison study-derived, weighted end-of-life practice score partly explained the worldwide study's variation in treatment limitations. The most important components of the weighted end-of-life practice score were ICU end-of-life protocols, palliative care consultations, and country end-of-life legislation.
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Reducing hospital admissions among people dying with dementia is a policy priority. ⋯ Multiple hospital admissions among people dying with dementia are increasing. Higher continuity of care and identification of palliative care needs are associated with a lower risk of multiple hospital admissions in this population, and might help prevent these admissions at the end of life.