Palliative care welcomes many people over the age of 60 according to the WHO. At the head of the causes of treatment: cancers and cardiovascular diseases.
Every year, 20 million people need end-of-life palliative care around the world. But “only 1 in 10 people who need palliative care for pain relief receives it.” The World Health Organization (WHO) draws up this sad assessment on January 28 in its World Atlas of Palliative Care. Among these patients, 1.2 million, so 6%, are children under the age of 15. In total, 37% of all-cause deaths follow an admission to palliative care.
Rather elderly patients
“It is important to keep in mind that although – in the longer or shorter term – effective prevention, early detection and treatment will reduce the need for palliative care, these will never be eliminated, because some types of cancer and other chronic diseases will inevitably remain fatal for some patients, ”the report’s authors point out. In the majority of cases (79%), palliative care patients are over 60 years of age. But 6% of 0-14 year olds are affected. In these situations, the causes leading to early end of life are often not preventable.
Distribution of people in need of palliative care at the end of life by age (source: WHO)
Non-communicable diseases
Cardiovascular disease, cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are the leading causes of adult admissions. Non-communicable diseases represent 90% of the burden of palliative care. This is also the case in children, who are mainly hospitalized because of birth defects, neonatal illnesses and malnutrition. The good news is emerging, however, that HIV requires the least amount of end-of-life palliative care compared to cancer and progressive non-malignant disease. This testifies to a certain effectiveness of antiretroviral treatments.
Europe, West Pacific, Americas
End-of-life palliative care needs do not affect everyone on the planet in the same way. In Europe and Asia, the majority of patients are treated for cancer. In Africa, they are rather HIV-positive patients. Meanwhile, the majority of those in need of palliative care live in low- and middle-income countries. “They often die after having to endure avoidable pain and suffering.” Indeed, according to this report, only 20 countries are equipped with palliative care. “It is estimated that 42% of countries have no palliative care services and 30% provide limited services that only benefit a small part of the population,” says Dr Mendis.
Distribution by WHO region of children in need of palliative care (Source: WHO)
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