The percentage of people dying in emergency departments has increased from 10.6% in 2015 to 14.3% in 2021, according to a statement by the University of Coimbra (UC).
Led by researcher Bárbara Gomes from the Faculty of Medicine at UC and the Biomedicine and Biotechnology Innovation Center, the research team believes that these findings could assist in implementing health policies that enhance end-of-life care.
Data analysis from 35 countries indicated that emergency services are used not only for acute treatment but also as final places of life for individuals of all ages.
Among the countries analyzed, only Portugal, and to some extent the United States and South Africa, have recorded instances where deaths occur in emergency departments.
“In these countries, 6.4% and 1.9% of people died in the emergency department and ambulatory settings, respectively,” noted the UC.
Gomes emphasized that the study puts Portugal in a unique position to understand the reality of emergency services as places of death and to act to ensure end-of-life care aligns with patient and family preferences.
She stressed the need for emergency teams to be well-prepared to recognize patients with palliative care needs and for institutions to have adequate resources to meet the needs of patients and their families in such settings.
The researcher suggested that avoiding emergency services when possible and providing home support is crucial.
The role of emergency departments as end-of-life care settings remains largely invisible in the debate on urgent care in Portugal and existing studies.
Researchers highlighted that many patients have palliative care needs that may be physical, psychological, social, and/or spiritual.
Citing research, Gomes pointed out that between 2015 and 2021 in Portugal, “15.7% of people with dementia died in emergency departments, a higher percentage than those dying from cancer.”
“The emergency department environment is particularly challenging for people with dementia, especially if they are not properly accompanied,” she added.
