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Prognostic factors in the elderly: a profile and outcomes study of a community palliative care service
Author(s) -
Chapman M.,
Le B.,
Gorelik A.,
Schwarz J.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.2012.02877.x
Subject(s) - medicine , palliative care , comorbidity , epidemiology , aged care , population ageing , intensive care medicine , population , gerontology , nursing , environmental health
Our ageing population creates challenges for palliative care, including accuracy of prognostication. This study highlights this by profiling the outcomes of an Australian, community‐based palliative service over 6 months with collection of epidemiological, comorbidity and physical function data. Most patients had cancer, comorbidities and died during the study. Low scores on the Australian‐modified Karnofsky Performance Scale and the presence of congestive cardiac failure were predictive of shorter survival.