150 Symptoms prevalence in patients with advanced liver disease referred to palliative care

<h3>Background</h3> The incidence of liver disease is increasing among the UK population. Patients with decompensated cirrhosis often present late, have unpredictable disease trajectory and significant symptom burden. Yet their access to palliative care is limited and the symptoms difficult to appreciate and challenging to manage. <h3>Method</h3> Renal IPOS (Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale) was used to collect information regarding physical and psychological burden of the disease in patients seen by a member of hospital Supportive Palliative Care Team either in Supportive Hepatology Outpatient Clinic or as inpatients, in a hospital with dedicated hepatology provision. The data was collected between March 2023- December 2024. <h3>Results</h3> IPOS was collected from 30 patient (22 outpatients and 8 inpatients) during their first review by palliative care team. Average age was 67.6 in the outpatient group (54.5% male) and 54.8 in the inpatients (62.5% male). The prevalence of non-alcohol related liver disease was 63.6% outpatient and 50% inpatient groups. The main reported symptoms in both groups was poor mobility (91 and 100% respectively) and weakness and fatigue (81 and 100%). The outpatient group further reported pain (73%), shortness of breath(SOB) and insomnia (both 68%) and drowsiness (68%). In the inpatient group SOB (75%) and insomnia (71%) were most prevalent. Both group reported high prevalence of anxiety and depression. In addition patients reported additional symptoms affecting quality of life related to hospital appointments, communication issues and disease burden. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Those results confirmed significant symptom burden related primarily to mobility and fatigue but also pain and insomnia. The majority of patients reported anxiety and depression. The on-going theme of lack of support and information was also seen, especially in the outpatient group. There is a strong indication that those patients would benefit from holistic assessment in palliative care clinic, access to physical therapy and psychological support.