Characteristics and clinical challenges in patients with substance use disorder in palliative care-experience from a tertiary center in a high-income country.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Access to palliative care is often limited for challenging and vulnerable groups, including persons with substance use disorders. However, with optimized healthcare options and liberal substitution policies, this patient group is likely to increase over the upcoming years, and comorbidities will also influence the need for palliative support. Here, we aim at analyzing characteristics and specific challenges associated with substance use disorders (SUD) in palliative care.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all patients diagnosed with substance use disorder that were treated at our Competence Center Palliative Care within the University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland between 2015 and 2021. Patient characteristics, including age, gender, duration of hospitalization,

SUBMITTER: Marti L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10826251 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature