Investigation burden for patients with fibrotic interstitial lung disease at the end of life.

2020-06

Guo, Hui

Mann, Jennifer

Goh, Nicole S L

Smallwood, Natasha

end-of-life care

interstitial lung disease

investigation

palliative care

pulmonary fibrosis

Journal Article

0000-0001-7771-9302

0000-0002-3403-3586

#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#

#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#

10.1111/imj.14856

Fibrotic interstitial lung disease (f-ILD) has a guarded prognosis, and the goal of therapy in advanced-stage disease should be symptom-based. Despite this, patients may still undergo burdensome investigation at the end of life. A retrospective audit was performed on 67 patients who died from f-ILD at the Royal Melbourne and Austin Hospitals between 2012 and 2016. Increased investigation burden was associated with lack of outpatient palliative care referral and documented advance care plan, and admission to a high-dependency unit. Eighteen per cent of patients underwent ongoing investigations after the institution of comfort care. These findings highlight the unmet end-of-life care needs of people with f-ILD.

link

Internal Medicine Journal 2020; 50(6): 748-752

Internal Medicine Journal