J Transcat Intervent.2021;29:eA20210017.
Epidemiological profile of deaths from COVID-19 at a reference cardiology hospital and indication for palliative care during the pandemic
Louis Nakayama Ohe
, Italo Menezes Ferreira
, Mateus Arantes Prata
, Kelvin Henrique Vilalva
, Felipe Heinen Gindri
, Marcos Almeida Meniconi
, Fausto Feres
DOI: 10.31160/JOTCI202129A20210017
ABSTRACT
Background
Palliative care is a set of procedures for patients and families facing terminal or advanced illnesses. Numerous studies have already evaluated the role of palliative care and indications in outpatient or emergency settings. Nonetheless, data referring to the role of palliative care during a pandemic, such as COVID-19, are lacking. This study aimed to analyze the profile of deaths by COVID-19 at a tertiary reference cardiology hospital, and to identify the factors associated with more frequent indication of palliative care during patient management.
Methods
From March 1 to July 31, 2020, all deaths due to confirmed COVID-19 were analyzed, and their clinical, epidemiological, laboratory and imaging data were obtained.
Results
Considering the deaths, 26.8% of patients had received palliative care during hospitalization. When the groups were compared (standard care versus palliative care), there was a statistically significant difference for age (67.1±12.1 versus 73.5±9.1 years), presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (3.2% versus 14.7%), and hypoxemia as cause of death (17.2% versus 55.9%).
Conclusion
In this analysis of patients admitted to the emergency room of a tertiary cardiology hospital during the pandemic period, the determining factors for higher indication for palliative care were age and previous chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The main cause of death was hypoxemia, which was more prevalent in the palliative group.
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