Palliative Care for the Seriously Ill

Abstract

Palliative care is the interdisciplinary specialty focused on improving quality of life for persons with serious illness and their families. Over the past decade, the field has undergone substantial growth and change, including an expanded evidence base, new care-delivery models, innovative payment mechanisms, and increasing public and professional awareness.

Figure 1. Symptom Prevalence in Advanced Illness

Data are from representative studies of symptom prevalence among patients with cancer,– congestive heart failure,^, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic kidney disease (CKD),^, or dementia^, and among patients who received highly active antiretroviral therapy for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Self-reported data regarding some symptoms were unavailable for patients with dementia.