‘High-risk’ patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a poor prognosis and need to be able to access palliative care services

摘要

We have collected data prospectively on a group of patients withCOPD who have had three or more admissions in the previousyear or who have been referred to the COPD multidisciplinaryteam (MDT) or both. We have examined these patients toidentify the severity and complexity of their disease, potentialinterventions and their clinical course, including admissionsand prognosis after the date of identification.