Impact of Palliative Care at end-of-life Covid19 Patients – A Pioneering Experience

Abstract

Abstract Background: The outbreak caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus was considered pandemic in March 2020, having already caused numerous deaths across the planet. Being able to cause diseases ranging from indolent to extremely symptomatic and life-threatening, it would be clearly beneficial to introduce professionals specialised in symptom control in advanced disease to combat it, in strict collaboration with other specialties, throughout the disease process. There are no studies in Portugal that analyse the intervention of Palliative Medicine at the end of life of these patients and how it differs from other specialties, so its knowledge could ascertain the importance of its inclusion in the care of the person with Covid19 in an advanced stage. Objectives: It is intended to verify the existence of differences between the care provided to Covid19 patients in a situation of Last Hours and Days of Life (LHDOL) followed by Palliative Medicine Doctors compared to patients who were not followed up by this specialty. Methods:Retrospective Cohort study using clinical files of deceased Covid19 users in a backup inpatient unit as a database. Results:Statistically significant differences were found in the care provided, namely a lower number of drugs at the time of death, drugs for dyspnoea, pain, and agitation, suspension of futile devices and use of palliative sedation to control refractory symptoms. Conclusion: End-of-life care and symptomatic control differ when there’s regular follow-up by Palliative Medicine, which may translate not only into less symptomatic suffering, but also into a more dignified and humanised end of life.