Table 2.
Symptoms, Drugs Prescribed, and Drug Effectiveness in 101 Hospital Inpatients With COVID-19 Referred to Specialist Palliative Care
| Symptoms at Time of Referral | N = 101 |
| Breathlessness | 67 |
| Agitation | 43 |
| Drowsiness | 36 |
| Pain | 23 |
| Delirium | 24 |
| Secretions | 11 |
| Fatigue | 9 |
| Fever | 9 |
| Cough | 4 |
| Other symptomsa | 12 |
| Symptom relieving drugs given by subcutaneous infusion | 58 |
| Morphine + midazolam | 23 |
| Morphine + midazolam + glycopyrronium | 8 |
| Morphine alone | 4 |
| Morphine + haloperidol | 1 |
| Morphine + midazolam + haloperidol | 1 |
| Fentanyl + midazolam | 9 |
| Fentanyl + midazolam + glycopyrronium | 3 |
| Alfentanil alone | 2 |
| Alfentanil + midazolam | 4 |
| Alfentanil + cyclizine | 1 |
| Alfentanil + midazolam + haloperidol | 1 |
| Midazolam alone | 1 |
| Median (range) dose/24 hours | |
| Morphine (mg) | 10 (5–30) |
| Fentanyl (microgram) | 100 (100–200) |
| Alfentanil (microgram) | 500 (150–1000) |
| Midazolam (mg) | 10 (5–20) |
| Glycopyrronium (microgram) | 1200 (600–2400) |
| Haloperidol (mg) | 2 (1–2) |
| Cyclizine (mg) | 50 |
| Clinical impression of effectivenessb | |
| Yes | 40 |
| Unclear (patient died before follow-up) | 13 |
| No | 5 |
a
Diarrhea (3), reduced oral intake (3), anxiety (2), seizures, ascites, incontinence, dysuria (1 each).
b
Based on follow-up documentation, for example, improved breathing, agitation, comfort.