Advance care planning was documented for about half of Italian ALS patients
Original source
Advance Care Planning in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: a retrospective population-based study. (opens in a new tab)Compass summarised this from the study's abstract.
Study details
- Studied in
- Human
Population inferred from the title and abstract by Compass.
Advance care planning discussions were documented for 655 of 1,219 people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in an Italian registry study covering 2008 to 2020. Expressed preferences matched end-of-life outcomes in 90.8% of cases, and discussion rates increased over the study period. Cognitive impairment and not using noninvasive mechanical ventilation were associated with lower participation.
Why this matters
The findings suggest that earlier, tailored conversations may help more people with ALS record their care preferences before cognitive or physical decline limits participation. In this study, advance care planning was also associated with gastrostomy placement, palliative care activation and dying at home. This observational study does not show that advance care planning caused these outcomes or change treatment recommendations for any individual.
Limitations and context
This was a retrospective population-based analysis of registry data from Italy, not a randomized study. It covered 2008–2020 and can show associations but not cause and effect. The findings may not apply to other healthcare systems or populations.