Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
2004-1-8
pubmed:abstractText
In order to investigate symptom burden in the last week of life, we conducted after-death interviews with close relatives of deceased older persons from a population-based sample of older people in The Netherlands (n=270). Results show that fatigue, pain, and shortness of breath were common (83%, 48% and 50%, respectively). Other symptoms were confusion (36%), anxiety (31%), depression (28%), and nausea and/or vomiting (25%). Cancer patients and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were clearly at a disadvantage with respect to pain and shortness of breath, respectively. Furthermore, cognitive decline turned out to be predictive of specific symptom burden. Persons with cognitive decline in the last three months had a higher symptom burden and different symptoms compared to patients with no cognitive decline. It is suggested that older persons with cognitive decline require specific attention.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0885-3924
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
27
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
5-13
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-8-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2004
pubmed:articleTitle
Symptom burden in the last week of life.
pubmed:affiliation
Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine (EMGO), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article