[Palliative care in non-malignant conditions]

Abstract

Up until now specialised palliative care has traditionally been offered to patients suffering from cancer. However, the age of our population is increasing and more old and old-old live until they die from one or more chronic non-malignant conditions. Patients dying from e.g. chronic heart failure must at one and the same time receive treatment for the actual deteriorating state of the heart condition as well as pure symptom control. Prognosticating the time of referral to specialist palliative care services is more difficult in non-malignant conditions.