Palliative Care and Rehabilitation in Hospitalized Patients with Respiratory Failure

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Patients with COPD have a significant need for palliative care interventions. Symptom burden in this population is as high or higher, and present for a longer period of time, as in lung cancer. There is both psychological and physical decline. Individuals with COPD have frequent hospitalizations that often result in intensive care unit admission. Compared with patient with lung cancer, patients with COPD are more likely to undergo heroic measures, including intubation, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, in the hour preceding death.