Physician preferences for medical interventions in elderly patients

To identify factors influencing medical decision making in the elderly based on differences in age, cognition, and function.

Physicians were given a clinical scenario and asked to select from three management options based on the patients' characteristics.

Eighty-six percent would offer aggressive management to patients less than 85 years of age, whereas only 47.2% would offer similar care to those over 85 years of age (RR 0.5; 95% CI: 0.4-0.7). Physicians were less likely to offer aggressive management for patients with dementia (RR 0.2; 95% CI: 0.1-0.6), and for those requiring home assistance (RR: 0.2; 95% CI: 0.1-0.6) compared to those without dementia or functional limitations.

Physicians are more likely to deny aggressive management to functionally active adults over 85 years of age, and to those with dementia or functional impairment irrespective of age.