End-of-life at the time of COVID-19

Abstract

In a time of concern about end-of-life (EOL) care, the news that many deaths caused by Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreaks occur in people older than 80 is not so reassuring. In fact, old patients with Covid-19 and preexisting comorbidities are more likely to die from bilateral interstitial pneumonia. This is also the case for complex neurological patients suffering from new-onset cerebrovascular events or with preexisting neurodegenerative diseases like dementia and Parkinson’s disease. The same may occur for long-term bedridden patients like those with persistent vegetative state or minimally conscious state who are completely dependent on others.