Advance Directive Implementation and Scientific Evaluation Study

This study is to better understand the use of advance directives, their implementation in the intensive care unit, and their effects on outcome. Data from the digital medical records of all consecutive adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit at the University Hospital Basel from 2011 to 2023 are retrospectively extracted. Descriptive analyses will be applied to report the proportion of patients with an advance directive. In-hospital outcome (defined as survival, Glasgow Outcome Score, and return of neurologic function to premorbid baseline) will be compared between patients with and without advanced directives

Inclusion Criteria: * adult patients treated for more than 48 hours in the intensive care unit (post-operative or internal medicine) of the University Hospital Basel in the years 2011-2023 Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with documented refusal of the general consent. * Patients who have been treated in the intensive care unit for less than 48 hours