Analyzing the use of specialized palliative care in intensive care unit patients in Germany: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite rising importance of integration of palliative medicine in treating life-threatening illnesses in intensive care units (ICU), the extent remains unknown. Using billing data, we analysed the frequency of specialized palliative care use in ICU patients in Germany.

Methods

Billing data (2019 -2022) from the InEK was used in this cross-sectional study on all billed adult ICU cases. Data included case numbers, demographics, diagnoses, treatment procedures, ventilation (≥ 95 h), palliative care frequency.

Results

61,591,299 adult cases were treated, 11.2% (6,912,316) requiring ICU and 499,262 (7.2%) needing long-term ventilation. 44.2% of all ICU cases and 36.2% of long-term ventilated patients were female (p < 0.0001). ICU mortality was 11.1%, long-term

SUBMITTER: von Saß C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11924865 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature