Advance care planning and the quality of end-of-life care in older adults

J Am Geriatr Soc. 2013 Feb;61(2):209-14. doi: 10.1111/jgs.12105. Epub 2013 Jan 25.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine whether advance care planning influences quality of end-of-life care.

Design: In this observational cohort study, Medicare data and survey data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) were combined to determine whether advance care planning was associated with quality metrics.

Setting: The nationally representative HRS.

Participants: Four thousand three hundred ninety-nine decedent subjects (mean age 82.6 at death, 55% women).

Measurements: Advance care planning (ACP) was defined as having an advance directive (AD), durable power of attorney (DPOA) or having discussed preferences for end-of-life care with a next of kin. Outcomes included previously reported quality metrics observed during the last month of life (rates of hospital admission, in-hospital death, >14 days in the hospital, intensive care unit admission, >1 emergency department visit, hospice admission, and length of hospice ≤ 3 days).

Results: Seventy-six percent of subjects engaged in ACP. Ninety-two percent of ADs stated a preference to prioritize comfort. After adjustment, subjects who engaged in ACP were less likely to die in a hospital (adjusted relative risk (aRR) = 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.80-0.94), more likely to be enrolled in hospice (aRR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.43-1.97), and less likely to receive hospice for 3 days or less before death (aRR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.85-0.91). Having an AD, a DPOA or an ACP discussion were each independently associated with a significant increase in hospice use (P < .01 for all).

Conclusion: ACP was associated with improved quality of care at the end of life, including less in-hospital death and increased use of hospice. Having an AD, assigning a DPOA and conducting ACP discussions are all important elements of ACP.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Advance Care Planning / organization & administration*
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Quality of Life*
  • Terminal Care / organization & administration*
  • United States