Advance care planning before and during COVID-19: evaluation of 73,675 patients’ records

Background Advance care planning (ACP) was encouraged by policymakers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about use of ACP during this time.

Aim To compare use of ACP before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design & setting Retrospective, observational cohort study, comparing the creation, use and content of Electronic Palliative Care Co-ordination System records in London. Individuals aged 18+ with a Coordinate My Care Record, created and published in the pre-pandemic period (01/01/2018–31/12/2019), Wave1 (W1) (20/03/2020–04/07/2020), and Wave2 (W2) (01/10/2020–05/03/2021).

Method Patient demographics and components of ACP were compared using descriptive and comparative statistics.

Results 73,675 records were included; 35,108 pre-pandemic, 21,235 W1, 9,925 W2. Most records were created in primary care (56% pre-COVID, 76% in W1 and 48% in W2).

Compared to the pre-pandemic period, the average weekly number of records created increased by 297% W1 (P<0.005) and 29.1% W2 (P<0.005). Patients with records created during the pandemic were younger (61% aged 80+ W1, 59% W2, 65% pre-pandemic (P<0.005)). Patients with records created in W1 had longer estimated prognoses at record creation (73% had an estimated prognosis of 1 year+ W1 vs 53% pre-pandemic (P<0.005)) and were more likely to be “For Resuscitation” (38% W1 vs 30% pre-pandemic (P<0.005)).

Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic, increased ACP activity was observed, especially in primary care, and for younger people and those not imminently dying. Further research is needed to identify training and planning requirements as well as organisational and system changes to support sustained high-quality ACP within primary care.