Characteristics, symptom management and outcomes in COVID-19 patients referred to palliative care in a tertiary hospital

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) variants pose unique challenges with inevitable premature death when cases of severe disease exponentially rise in a healthcare system. It is imperative that palliative care is provided with a proactive approach to symptom recognition, assessment, management and treatment escalation to ensure comfort throughout the course of this illness. Objectives:To evaluate the characteristics, symptom burden, palliative care management and outcomes of COVID-19 patients referred to a palliative care unit (PCU) in a single tertiary hospital. Clinical outcomes specifically observed the management of agitation in these patients based on their Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale (RASS) scores.