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. 2025 Sep 11:spcare-2025-005745.
doi: 10.1136/spcare-2025-005745. Online ahead of print.

Interstitial lung disease: multidisciplinary outpatient palliative care service

Mymy Tran  1   2 , Kah Yee Tham  1   3 , Susanne Webster  1 , Lauren Troy  1   2 , Caitlin Fermoyle  1   2 , Christin Monika Geis  1 , Helen Jo  1   2 , Alan Teoh  1   2 , Laura Glenn  1   2 , Nathan Mortimer  1 , Kelly Mian Chen  1 , Aruvi Thiruvarudchelvan  1 , Tamera J Corte  1   2 , Anthoulla Mohamudally  4   5
Affiliations

Interstitial lung disease: multidisciplinary outpatient palliative care service

Mymy Tran et al. BMJ Support Palliat Care. .

Abstract

Objectives: To facilitate earlier access to palliative care (PC) for interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients, a combined ILD-PC clinic was launched at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. We describe referral patterns and clinical practice 16 months post-implementation.

Methods: A review of consecutive patients referred to the ILD-PC clinic was performed. Reasons for referral, PC interventions implemented and clinical outcomes were documented.

Results: 36 patients were referred to the ILD-PC clinic (75±8 years; 57% men). Diagnoses included idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (49%), unclassifiable ILD (14%), chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (14%) and connective tissue disease-associated ILD (11%). Reasons for referral included high symptom burden (91%), advanced disease (66%) and disease progression (49%). PC management strategies encompassed symptom management (60%), referral to community PC services (40%), advance care planning (26%) and the prescription of opioids and benzodiazepines (23%). During the follow-up period, 23% of patients self-reported worsening symptoms, 40% demonstrated lung function decline, 11% died and 6% were listed for lung transplantation.

Conclusions: The ILD-PC clinic incorporates a multidisciplinary, patient-centred approach to ILD care by enabling early access to symptom management, community services and advance care planning.

Keywords: Palliative Care; Respiratory conditions; Supportive care; Symptoms and symptom management.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: There are no conflicts of interest to declare that directly relate to this manuscript. Unrelated to the current work, TJC reports grants or contracts from Boehringer Ingelheim, Pharmaxis, Bristol Myers Squibb, 4D, Roche, Pliant, Bridge Biotherapeutics and Avalyn Therapeutics; consulting fees with Boehringer Ingelheim, Pharmaxis, Bristol Myers Squibb, 4D, Roche, Pliant Bridge Biotherapeutics, Avalyn Therapeutics, DevPro, Endeavour, BioMedicine and Cincera; honoraria for lectures, presentations, speakers bureaus, manuscript writing or educational events from Bristol Myers Squibb, Roche and Boehringer Ingelheim; support for attending meetings and/or travel with Bristol Myers Squibb and Boehringer Ingelheim; participation on a data safety monitoring board or advisory Board with Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Roche, Pliant, Bridge Biotherapeutics, Avalyn Therapeutics, DevPro and Endeavour BioMedicine. SW has received an educational grant from Boehringer Ingelheim. AM reports a contract from Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaxis. LT reports speaker fees from Boehringer Ingelheim and Erbe Elektromedizin, and consulting fees from Moderna. LG reports travel and conference support from Boehringer Ingelheim.

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