Prevalence of symptoms at the end of life in an acute care hospital: a retrospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is currently debate over the benefits and harms of physician-assisted death. One of the factors influencing this debate is concern about symptoms in the days before death. The objective of this study was to describe the frequency of symptoms before death and determine patient characteristics associated with these symptoms.

Methods

We reviewed the medical record of every patient who died at a multisite academic teaching hospital over a 3-month period. We determined the number of episodes of pain, dyspnea, agitation and nausea during the final 48 hours of life and assessed the patient and encounter characteristics associated with 2 or more episodes of symptoms.

Results

A total of 480 patients died during the study period. Of these patients, 29.2% (140/4

SUBMITTER: Kobewka D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5378541 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan-Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature