Palliative care during COVID-19: Data and visits from loved ones
<strong>Objectives:</strong> A vital component of the coronavirus response is care of the dying COVID-19 patient. We document the demographics, symptoms experienced, medications required, effectiveness observed, and challenges to high-quality holistic palliative care in 31 patients. This...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publications
2020
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| _version_ | 1797107188747993088 |
|---|---|
| author | Heath, L Yates, S Carey, M Miller, M |
| author_facet | Heath, L Yates, S Carey, M Miller, M |
| author_sort | Heath, L |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | <strong>Objectives:</strong>
A vital component of the coronavirus response is care of the dying COVID-19 patient. We document the demographics, symptoms experienced, medications required, effectiveness observed, and challenges to high-quality holistic palliative care in 31 patients. This will aid colleagues in primary and secondary care settings anticipate common symptoms and formulate management plans.
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<strong>Methods:</strong>
A retrospective survey was conducted of patients referred to the hospital palliative care service in a tertiary hospital, south east of England between March 21 and April 26, 2020. Patients included had a confirmed laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19 via reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-Cov-2 or radiological evidence of COVID-19.
<br>
<strong>Results:</strong>
The thirty-one patients included were predominantly male (77%), elderly (median [interquartile range]: 84 [76-89]), and had multiple (4 [3-5]) comorbidities. Referral was made in the last 2 [1-3] days of life. Common symptoms were breathlessness (84%) and delirium (77%). Fifty-eight percent of patients received at least 1 “as required” dose of an opioid or midazolam in the 24 hours before death. Sixty percent of patients needed a continuous subcutaneous infusion and the median morphine dose was 10 mg S/C per 24 hours and midazolam 10 mg S/C per 24 hours. Nineteen percent of our cohort had a loved one or relative present when dying.
<br>
<strong>Conclusion:</strong>
We provide additional data to the internationally reported pool examining death arising from infection with SARS-CoV-19. The majority of patients had symptoms controlled with low doses of morphine and midazolam, and death was rapid. The impact of low visitation during dying needs exploring. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T07:12:25Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:8778ad2a-8966-4e4d-84c6-91b5f096d91c |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T07:12:25Z |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| publisher | SAGE Publications |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:8778ad2a-8966-4e4d-84c6-91b5f096d91c2022-07-05T11:13:05ZPalliative care during COVID-19: Data and visits from loved onesJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:8778ad2a-8966-4e4d-84c6-91b5f096d91cEnglishSymplectic ElementsSAGE Publications2020Heath, LYates, SCarey, MMiller, M<strong>Objectives:</strong> A vital component of the coronavirus response is care of the dying COVID-19 patient. We document the demographics, symptoms experienced, medications required, effectiveness observed, and challenges to high-quality holistic palliative care in 31 patients. This will aid colleagues in primary and secondary care settings anticipate common symptoms and formulate management plans. <br> <strong>Methods:</strong> A retrospective survey was conducted of patients referred to the hospital palliative care service in a tertiary hospital, south east of England between March 21 and April 26, 2020. Patients included had a confirmed laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19 via reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-Cov-2 or radiological evidence of COVID-19. <br> <strong>Results:</strong> The thirty-one patients included were predominantly male (77%), elderly (median [interquartile range]: 84 [76-89]), and had multiple (4 [3-5]) comorbidities. Referral was made in the last 2 [1-3] days of life. Common symptoms were breathlessness (84%) and delirium (77%). Fifty-eight percent of patients received at least 1 “as required” dose of an opioid or midazolam in the 24 hours before death. Sixty percent of patients needed a continuous subcutaneous infusion and the median morphine dose was 10 mg S/C per 24 hours and midazolam 10 mg S/C per 24 hours. Nineteen percent of our cohort had a loved one or relative present when dying. <br> <strong>Conclusion:</strong> We provide additional data to the internationally reported pool examining death arising from infection with SARS-CoV-19. The majority of patients had symptoms controlled with low doses of morphine and midazolam, and death was rapid. The impact of low visitation during dying needs exploring. |
| spellingShingle | Heath, L Yates, S Carey, M Miller, M Palliative care during COVID-19: Data and visits from loved ones |
| title | Palliative care during COVID-19: Data and visits from loved ones |
| title_full | Palliative care during COVID-19: Data and visits from loved ones |
| title_fullStr | Palliative care during COVID-19: Data and visits from loved ones |
| title_full_unstemmed | Palliative care during COVID-19: Data and visits from loved ones |
| title_short | Palliative care during COVID-19: Data and visits from loved ones |
| title_sort | palliative care during covid 19 data and visits from loved ones |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT heathl palliativecareduringcovid19dataandvisitsfromlovedones AT yatess palliativecareduringcovid19dataandvisitsfromlovedones AT careym palliativecareduringcovid19dataandvisitsfromlovedones AT millerm palliativecareduringcovid19dataandvisitsfromlovedones |