Investigation of parameters associated with mortality in a palliative care unit

Introduction
Effective palliative care reduces unnecessary hospital admissions and intensive care length of stay. The present study aimed to investigate the parameters associated with mortality in patients receiving palliative care support.

Material and methods
This prospective observational study was conducted among inpatients in a palliative care unit.

Results
A total of 177 patients hospitalized in the palliative care unit were included in the study. Of the patients, 84 (47.5%) were female and the mean age was 72.49 ±15.12 years. At the end of the follow-up period in the palliative care unit, 67 patients (37.9%) had died. A one-unit increase in albumin was associated with 66.6% lower odds of mortality [odds ratio (OR): 0.334, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.141–0.791; p = 0.013] and a one-unit increase in Karnofsky performance scales (KPS) score was associated with 4.8% lower odds of mortality (OR: 0.952, 95% CI: 0.925–0.980; p = 0.001). In contrast, the odds of mortality were 4.851 times higher in patients with congestive heart failure (95% CI: 1.716–13.717; p = 0.003), 4.442 times higher in patients with solid organ malignancy (95% CI: 1.420–13.894; p = 0.01), 3.727 times in the presence of hypoxia at admission (95% CI: 1.504–9.239; p = 0.005), and 3.626 times higher in patients who developed an infection during follow-up (95% CI: 1.523–8.635; p = 0.004).

Conclusions
The results of this study suggest that congestive heart failure, solid organ malignancy, hypoxia at admission, infection during follow-up, and low albumin level and KPS score may be indicators of poor outcome.