End-of-life care in the critically ill geriatric population

Richard A. Mularski, Molly L. Osborne

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

As the geriatric population in the United States increases and better management of chronic diseases improves survival, more elderly will become critically ill and potentially require treatment in an intensive care unit (ICU). Dan Callahan has written, ". . . we will live longer lives, be better sustained by medical care, in return for which our deaths in old age are more likely to be drawn out and wild." Although no health care provider hopes for a drawn out and wild death for elderly patients, many geriatric persons will succumb to disease and die after having chosen and received ICU care. Recent data suggest that, on average, 11% of Medicare recipients spend more that 7 days in the ICU within 6 months before death.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)789-810
Number of pages22
JournalCritical Care Clinics
Volume19
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2003

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'End-of-life care in the critically ill geriatric population'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this