Breathlessness research – most cited in the Lancet
28th July 2016
Researchers at the Cicely Saunders Institute are delighted that their research study An integrated palliative and respiratory care service for patients with advanced disease and refractory breathlessness: a randomised controlled trial is on the Lancet Respiratory Medicine’s ‘most cited’ list.
The study found that early integrated palliative care for people with refractory breathlessness improved quality of life and survival.
Breathlessness is a common and distressing symptom, which increases in many diseases as they progress and is difficult to manage. Researchers assessed the effectiveness of early palliative care integrated with respiratory services for patients with advanced disease and refractory breathlessness. The breathlessness support service improved breathlessness mastery. The team’s findings provide robust evidence to support the early integration of palliative care for all patients with breathlessness, irrespective of their underlying condition (cancer/non-cancer).
Further information about the study and information leaflets for patients and clinicians are on the King’s College London website here
Higginson IJ, Bausewein C, Reilly C, Gao W, Gysels M, Dzingina M, McCrone P, Booth S, Jolley C, Moxham J. An integrated palliative and respiratory care service for patients with advanced disease and refractory breathlessness: a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Vol 2 (12) 979–987. Dec 2014 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(14)70226-7
Published Online: 28 October 2014
The Breathlessness research programme at the Cicely Saunders Institute is supported by Cicely
Saunders International.