Resuscitation status in psychogeriatric and general medical inpatients aged 65 years and older: A retrospective comparison study

Objective: The aims of the present study were to establish rates of resuscitation order documentation of patients aged ≥65 years from both psychogeriatric and general medical units and to compare patients on predictors of resuscitation status, particularly examining the effect of depression. Methods: A retrospective case note audit of psychogeriatric (n = 162) and general medical (n = 135) unit admissions within a tertiary teaching hospital was performed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine significant clinical and demographic predictors of resuscitation status. Results: Resuscitation orders were documented in more psychogeriatric (94.4%) than general medical (48.1%) files. Depression did not significantly predict resuscitation status in either group. Having undergone competency assessment significantly predicted resuscitation status for the total sample and separately for psychogeriatric and medical patients. Older age (overall sample), poorer prognosis (overall sample), living in residential care (overall sample and medical group) and self-consenting to resuscitation status (overall sample and medical group) significantly predicted resuscitation status. Conclusions: Resuscitation orders were more frequently documented on the psychogeriatric unit. Further prospective analysis is needed of how resuscitation orders are made before depression is discounted as a predictor of end-of-life decision-making.