High Dyspnea Score, a Trigger for Specialist Palliative Care Utilization-Results from a Cohort Study on the Predictors of High Opioid and Benzodiazepine Use in COVID-19 Patients.
Lionel Kee Yon See, Mahrley Tanagon Provido, Sheryl Ng, Fionna Chunru Yow, Xin Lun Ho, Khar Suan Lee, Han Yee Neo, Oon Tek Ng, Kalisvar Marimuthu, Allyn Yin Mei Hum, Wen Yang Goh
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) often rapidly deteriorate with severe dyspnea and should receive early specialist palliative care (SPC) as intensive symptom management may be required at the end of life. Currently, there is a paucity of data identifying triggers for early SPC involvement. Objective: To identify risk factors among nonventilated patients with severe COVID-19 who required high opioid and/or benzodiazepines (BZD) use for the control of dyspnea. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of nonventilated patients with COVID-19 admitted to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases in Singapore and seen by SPC between January 2021 and July 2022. We collected baseline demographics, comorbidities, 4C mortality score (International Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Consortium-Comprehensive Clinical Characterization Collaboration [ISARIC-4C]), and COVID-19 vaccination status. Clinical and laboratory results, dyspnea by numerical rating scale, and palliative-related treatments were recorded at the first SPC review, when symptoms peaked, and the last SPC review. Patients with morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD) of ≥45mg and/or BZD use for dyspnea control were grouped as high users, while patients with MEDD <45mg and no BZD use were low users. Results: Among 234 patients, 119 (50.9%) were high users. Multivariate analysis showed that subjects with higher dyspnea (odds ratio [OR] 1.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.45-2.08) and lower ISARIC-4C scores (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.67-0.88) at first SPC review were predictive of high users. High users also required higher supplemental oxygen and had higher inpatient mortality rates. Conclusions: High dyspnea score is predictive of high opioid and/or BZD use for symptom control in nonventilated patients with severe COVID-19. Such patients with high mortality rates should be seen early by SPC.
期刊介绍:
Journal of Palliative Medicine is the premier peer-reviewed journal covering medical, psychosocial, policy, and legal issues in end-of-life care and relief of suffering for patients with intractable pain. The Journal presents essential information for professionals in hospice/palliative medicine, focusing on improving quality of life for patients and their families, and the latest developments in drug and non-drug treatments.
The companion biweekly eNewsletter, Briefings in Palliative Medicine, delivers the latest breaking news and information to keep clinicians and health care providers continuously updated.