Improving care for critically ill older adults through palliative care integration
Official title: Randomized Trial of Specialty Palliative Care Integrated with Critical Care for Critically Ill Older Adults at High Risk of Death or Severe Disability
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10845525 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether adding special palliative care to regular critical care can help older adults who are very sick feel better and make better decisions about their treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $582,280 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG068567-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10845525 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are critically ill older adults who are at high risk of death or severe disability and meet specific criteria for palliative care consultation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not critically ill or do not meet the criteria for palliative care consultation may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how integrating specialty palliative care with standard critical care can improve outcomes for critically ill older adults. The study will involve 625 participants who are at high risk of death or severe disability, and they will be randomly assigned to receive either early palliative care alongside their critical care or usual care. The goal is to assess whether this approach can reduce distressing symptoms and improve decision-making for patients and their families. By focusing on patient-centered care, the research aims to enhance the quality of life for those facing critical health challenges.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved symptom management and decision-making for critically ill older adults, ultimately enhancing their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that integrating palliative care in critical settings can improve patient outcomes, suggesting a promising avenue for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: White, Douglas B — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: White, Douglas B
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.