HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Permissions Request Permissions Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Curtis, J. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Curtis, J. R.

Palliative and end-of-life care for patients with severe COPD

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

CORRESPONDENCE: J. R. Curtis, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, Box 359762, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104-2499, USA. Fax: 1 2067318584. E-mail: jrc{at}u.washington.edu

Keywords: Chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, communication, emphysema, end-of-life care, palliative care

Received: September 24, 2007
Accepted October 20, 2007

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. For many patients, maximal therapy for COPD produces only modest or incomplete relief of disabling symptoms and these symptoms result in a significantly reduced quality of life.

Despite the high morbidity and mortality associated with severe COPD, many patients receive inadequate palliative care. There are several reasons for this. First, patient–physician communication about palliative and end-of-life care is infrequent and often of poor quality. Secondly, the uncertainty in predicting prognosis for patients with COPD makes communication about end-of-life care more difficult. Consequently, patients and their families frequently do not understand that severe COPD is often a progressive and terminal illness.

The purpose of the present review is to summarise recent research regarding palliative and end-of-life care for patients with COPD. Recent studies provide insight and guidance into ways to improve communication about end-of-life care and thereby improve the quality of palliative and end-of-life care the patients receive. Two areas that may influence the quality of care are also highlighted: 1) the role of anxiety and depression, common problems for patients with COPD; and 2) the importance of advance care planning.

Improving communication represents an important opportunity for the improvement of the quality of palliative and end-of-life care received by these patients.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. C. Creagh-Brown and C. Shee Palliative and end-of-life care for patients with severe COPD Eur. Respir. J., February 1, 2009; 33(2): 445 - 446. [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. J A Janssen, T. P G Alsemgeest, G. A M Widdershoven, E. F M Wouters, J. M G A Schols, and M. A Spruit Authors' reply BMJ, January 9, 2009; 338(jan09_1): b45 - b45. [Full Text]

				N Ambrosino Of respiratory and other sensations... Chronic Respiratory Disease, November 1, 2008; 5(4): 195 - 196. [PDF]