Symptom prevalence in palliative care patients admitted to the emergency department: are there differences between patients with cancer and non-cancer illness?

This study shows that seriously ill patients presenting to the ED experience substantial symptom burden, but with distinct profiles between cancer and non-cancer conditions. In this sample, pain, fatigue, and gastrointestinal symptoms predominate in cancer, while dyspnea characterizes non-cancer illness. These findings underscore the need for systematic symptom screening and early PC referral in the ED to ensure equitable, timely, and effective symptom relief across all serious illnesses.