The role of palliative medicine specialist in the management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a challenging medical issue. Percentage of patients with advanced stages is as high as 20%. In this group good quality of life and a good symptoms control is rarely obtained. Moreover risk of significant of both deterioration the course of the disease or death is high. In this context the inclusion of palliative medicine specialist to the therapeutic team might result in better symptom control, better end-of-life treatment planning and proper patients’ management in the terminal phase of COPD.