Pharmacological treatment of pain, dyspnea, death rattle, fever, nausea, and vomiting in the last days of life in older people: A systematic review.

Background: Evidence based guidelines for treatment of physical symptoms during the last days of life in older people are not available.

Aim: We wanted to synthesize the existing evidence on the pharmacological treatment of pain, dyspnea, death rattle, fever, nausea, and vomiting during the last days of life in older people to develop recommendations that can help guide clinical practice.

Design: A systematic review was conducted (PROSPERO #CRD42023406100) and reported in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.

Pharmacological Treatment for Terminal Agitation, Delirium and Anxiety in Frail Older Patients.

Context: Psychological distress symptoms in the last days of life often contribute to the overall symptom burden in frail older patients. Good symptom management practices are crucial to ensure high-quality end-of-life care in an aging population, though the best pharmacological approach to treat these psychological symptoms has yet to be established.

Objectives: To identify current evidence-based and practice-based knowledge of pharmacological interventions for the treatment of agitation, delirium, and anxiety during the last days of life in frail older patients.