Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31292186›Full record

Observational studyBMJ open2019

The (un)availability of prognostic information in the last days of life: a prospective observational study.

Nicola White, Fiona Reid, Priscilla Harries, Adam J L Harris, Ollie Minton, Catherine McGowan, Philip Lodge, Adrian Tookman, Patrick Stone

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMJ open, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Cardiologists' perspective on termination of pacemaker therapy-an anonymous survey among cardiologists in Germany.Clinical research in cardiology : official journal of the German Cardiac Society · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Nicola WhiteMarie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College London, London, London, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-7438-0072
Fiona ReidDepartment of Primary Care & Public Health Sciences, King's College London, London, London, UK.
Priscilla HarriesCentre for Applied Health and Social Care Research (CAHSCR), Kingston University & St George's, University of London, London, UK.
Adam J L HarrisExperimental Psychology, University College London, London, London, UK.
Ollie MintonPalliative Medicine, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Brighton, Brighton and Hove, UK.
Catherine McGowanPalliative Medicine, St. Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Philip LodgePalliative Medicine, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, London, UK.
Adrian TookmanPalliative Medicine, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, London, UK.
Patrick StoneMarie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College London, London, London, UK.

Funding

Marie Curie MCCC-FCH-18-UMarie Curie MCCC-FCO-11-UMarie Curie MCCC-FPO-16-U
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThe aims of this study were (1) to document the clinical condition of patients considered to be in the last 2 weeks of life and (2) to compare patients who did or did not survive for 72 hours.

designA prospective observational study.

settingTwo sites in London, UK (a hospice and a hospital palliative care team).

participantsAny inpatient, over 18 years old, English speaking, who was identified by the palliative care team as at risk of dying within the next 2 weeks was eligible. OUTCOME MEASURES: Prognostic signs and symptoms were documented at a one off assessment and patients were followed up 7 days later to determine whether or not they had died.

resultsFifty participants were recruited and 24/50 (48%) died within 72 hours of assessment. The most prevalent prognostic features observed were a decrease in oral food intake (60%) and a rapid decline of the participant's global health status (56%). Participants who died within 72 hours had a lower level of consciousness and had more care needs than those who lived longer. A large portion of data was unavailable, particularly that relating to the psychological and spiritual well-being of the patient, due to the decreased consciousness of the patient.

conclusionsThe prevalence of prognostic signs and symptoms in the final days of life has been documented between those predicted to die and those who did not. How doctors make decisions with missing information is an area for future research, in addition to understanding the best way to use the available information to make more accurate predictions.

Indexed as

AdultAgedFemaleHospice CareHumansMaleMiddle AgedPalliative CarePredictive Value of TestsPrognosisProspective StudiesTerminal Caredyingpalliative careprognosis

Identifiers

PMID31292186
PMCPMC6624101

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.