The need for palliative care among patients with chronic diseases: a situational diagnosis in a university hospital

Abstract Objective: To perform a situational diagnosis of a population hospitalized with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCD) who are potentially entitled to palliative care in a university hospital. Method: A quantitative study with document analysis was carried out. The analyzes were categorized by the following variables: baseline diagnosis, age, sex, readmission and PPS (Palliative Performance Scale) score. Results: Over two months of research among 631 hospitalized patients, 198 patients who were potentially entitled to palliative care were identified; 113 (57.1%) of whom were older adults. Cancer was the disease with the highest incidence among the surveyed, with 95 cases, and was more recurrent in the older patient group, with 52 cases (62.1%). Similarly, multiple hospitalizations were more prevalent in the older population, and patients diagnosed with strokes had the longest hospitalizations. Conclusion: The situational diagnosis carried out was relevant as it identified a group of patients, the majority of whom were older, who may be neglected in terms of their right to palliative care and an improved quality of death.