End-of-life decision-making and changing preferences in patients with a left ventricular assist device for destination therapy: insights from advance directives in Japan.

ABSTRACT: End-of-life decision-making and the evolution of patient preferences over time remain insufficiently explored in destination therapy with left ventricular assist device (DT-LVAD) in Japan. This retrospective observational study analyzed standardized advance directives from DT-LVAD patients in Japan. The advance directives comprised (1) preferred end-of-life medical care, (2) designated surrogate decision-makers, and (3) personal life wishes. This study comprises two components: a cross-sectional analysis of all patients at the time of LVAD implantation, and a longitudinal analysis evaluating changes in advance directive preferences among patients who completed the 1-year follow-up assessment. This study included 27 patients who initially received DT-LVAD (median age 47 years, 21 men). At t

SUBMITTER: Izumida T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12549418 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature