Survival Rate of Patients with Vegetative State Referred to Forensic Medicine Centers in Tehran from the Beginning of 2008 to the End of 2017

Aim(s): The survival rate of patients with vegetative state depends on many factors such as the amount of medical equipment used and how they are cared. By obtaining an average survival rate, one can estimate the average maintenance cost. The purpose of this study was to investigate the survival rate of patients with vegetative state referred to forensic medicine centers in Tehran from the beginning of 2008 to the end of 2017. Instruments & Methods: In this retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study, 58 records of patients with vegetative state referred to forensic medical centers in Tehran during 10 years (beginning of 2008 to the end of 2017) were studied. Data were analyzed by SPSS 23 software using chi-square test. Findings: 31 patients (53.4%) were still alive at the time of study and 27 patients (46.6%) were dead. The mean of survival rate of patients with vegetative state was 6.39±1.50 months ranged from 2 to 192 months. There was no significant relationship between survival rate of patients with vegetative state and sex, age and cause of vegetative state (p>0.05). Conclusion: The mean of survival rate of patients with vegetative state referred to forensic medicine centers in Tehran from the beginning of 2008 to the end of 2017 is 6.39±1.50 months. The minimum survival rate after vegetative state has been 2 months and the maximum has been 192 months (16 years). Therefore, the average cost of maintaining them can be estimated.