ICU sedation, delirium & recovery
The impact of religion on changes in end-of-life practices in European intensive care units: a comparative analysis over 16 years
Authors' conclusion
Changes in end-of-life practices observed over 16 years appear unrelated to religious affiliations of ICU patients or their treating physicians, but the effects of religiosity and/or culture could not be assessed.
Study context
- Population
- Adult ICU patients who died or had limitations of life-sustaining therapy in 22 European intensive care units (ICUs) (Northern, Central, Southern Europe)
- Participants
- 4,592 patients · 22 ICUs
- Exposure
- Ethicus-2 vs Ethicus-1
- Ethicus-2n = 1,785
- Ethicus-1n = 2,807reference
- Outcome
- Changes in end-of-life practices regarding patient/physician religious affiliations
- Follow-up
- 16 years
Methodological detailsEthicus-1 and Ethicus-2, multicentre, 22 European ICUs, 3 regions
- Ethicus-1 and Ethicus-2
- Multicentre
- 22 European ICUs
- 3 regions
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
End-of-life practices by religion
- No significant changes in end-of-life practices for any religion over 16 years
- Distribution of end-of-life practices by religion and region comparable between the two studies
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Withholding
Withdrawing
Physician religious affiliation
- Treating physicians (not patients) commonly reported no religious affiliation
- 18%
End-of-life discussions, mortality, time until first decision
- End-of-life discussions with patients/families/physicians increased; mortality and time until first decision decreased
Original publication
The impact of religion on changes in end-of-life practices in European intensive care units: a comparative analysis over 16 years. Intensive Care Med. Published 9 October 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →