Reasons for Neurology Consultation in Palliative Care Patients

Neurological diseases are the second most common group of diseases requiring palliative care insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PC); after cancer, and neurological evaluations may be required frequently in PC patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the reasons for neurology consultation of patients followed in a PC center insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PCC);. The medical records of patients assessmented with neurological consultation at our hospital PCC between 2020 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Our study included 223 patients with a mean age of 78 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(18-98); years; 54.3% were female, with a mean GCS score of 10 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(4–14);. At least one neurological diagnosis was present in 65.5% of the patients. The most common neurological diseases were dementia insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(30.9%);, stroke insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(27.4%);, Parkinson’s disease insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(12.6%); and epilepsy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(10.8%);. Reasons for neurological consultations included re-treatment planning related to neurological diseases insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(34.5%; most commonly for stroke 19.3%);, swallowing assessment insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(29.1%);, healthcare documentation needs insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(20.6%; medications, guardianship, bed, care, and disability); and seizures insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(5.4%);. In conclusion, neurological diseases are frequently observed in PC patients, often necessitating neurological assessments for disease re-treatment planning, nutritional support, and care requirements during the care process.