A Palliative Approach is Adopted for Many Patients Dying in Hospital with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

Severe chronic breathlessness in advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is undertreated and few patients access specialist palliative care in the years before death. This study aimed to determine if symptom palliation or a palliative approach were delivered during the final hospital admission in which death occurred. Retrospective medical record audits were completed at two Australian hospitals, with all patients who died from COPD over 12 years between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2015 included. Of 343 patients included, 217 (63%) were male with median age 79 years (IQR 71.4–85.0). Median respiratory function: FEV 1 0.80L (42% predicted), FVC 2.02L (73% predicted) and DLco ..