Figure 4. Percent of Sampled Adults Who Would Want Short-Term or Long-term Mechanical Ventilation if in Hypothetical Health Statesa

88 percent of sampled adults would want short-term mechanical ventilation if in a state of current health; 42 percent of sampled adults would want long-term mechanical ventilation if in a state of current health; 29 percent of sampled adults would want short-term mechanical ventilation if in a state of permanent coma; 14 percent of sampled adults would want long-term mechanical ventilation if in a state of permanent coma; 56 percent of sampled adults would want short-term mechanical ventilation if in a state of dementia; 23 percent of sampled adults would want long-term mechanical ventilation if in a state of dementia; 59 percent of sampled adults would want short-term mechanical ventilation if in a state of severe stroke; 23 percent of sampled adults would want long-term mechanical ventilation if in a state of severe stroke; 44 percent of sampled adults would want short-term mechanical ventilation if in a state of severe pain; 18 percent of sampled adults would want long-term mechanical ventilation if in a state of severe pain.

aSample included 50 well adults ages 21-65 years, 49 well adults older than 65, 49 older adults with chronic illness, 48 adults with terminal cancer, 50 adults with AIDS, 45 stroke survivors, and 50 nursing home residents.
Source: Patrick DL, Pearlman RA, Starks HE, et al. Validation of preferences for life-sustaining treatment: implications for advance care planning. Ann Intern Med 1997;127(7):509-17.

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