Differences in the palliative care phase between patients with nonmalignant pulmonary disease and lung cancer: a retrospective study.

Background: Patients with chronic nonmalignant pulmonary disease and lung cancer both need palliative care, but palliative care services may be better adjusted to serve cancer patients. We compared the timing and clinical practice of palliative care and acute hospital usage during the last year of life in patients with nonmalignant pulmonary disease or lung cancer.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of all patients in a palliative care phase (palliative goal of care) with nonmalignant pulmonary disease or lung cancer who were treated at Tampere University Hospital, Finland, during the years 2018-2020.