Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2016
ReviewResource Use and Health Care Costs of COPD Patients at the End of Life: A Systematic Review.
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in their final months of life potentially place a high burden on health care systems. Concrete knowledge about resources used and costs incurred by those patients at the end of life is crucial for policymakers. ⋯ The high use of health care resources in COPD patients in the final months of life suggests a focus on prolonging life and a tendency toward aggressive care. Limiting potentially inappropriate care and improving the quality of end-of-life care in advanced COPD are, therefore, important public health challenges.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2016
ReviewResource Use and Health Care Costs of COPD Patients at the End of Life: A Systematic Review.
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in their final months of life potentially place a high burden on health care systems. Concrete knowledge about resources used and costs incurred by those patients at the end of life is crucial for policymakers. ⋯ The high use of health care resources in COPD patients in the final months of life suggests a focus on prolonging life and a tendency toward aggressive care. Limiting potentially inappropriate care and improving the quality of end-of-life care in advanced COPD are, therefore, important public health challenges.