Global burden of serious health-related suffering due to almost double by 2060

Serious life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses place an enormous burden on society and health systems. For the first time, researchers from King's College London have produced worldwide projections of the future need for palliative care based on serious health-related suffering, in order to help inform policies that alleviate suffering and prevent health systems weakening.

They modelled future estimates of suffering by World Bank income classification, WHO region, age, gender, and condition causing death.

The main findings included:

• Serious health-related suffering will increase in all world regions, with the largest proportional rise in low-income countries (155% increase between 2016 and 2060).
• In high-income countries 3 million more people will die with serious health-related suffering in 2060, an increase of 57% compared to 2016.
• Globally, serious health-related suffering will increase most rapidly among older people (183% increase in those aged 70+ 2016-2060).
• The increase in serious health-related suffering will be driven by rises in cancer deaths (16 million people dying each year with serious health-related suffering by 2060, 109% increase 2016-2060). The condition with the highest proportional increase will be dementia (6 million people dying each year with serious health-related suffering by 2060, 264% increase 2016-2060).

Lead author, Dr Katherine Sleeman, NIHR Clinician Scientist and Honorary Consultant in palliative medicine at the Cicely Saunders Institute at King's College London said: "Immediate global action to integrate palliative care into health systems is an ethical and economic imperative.

"Palliative care can relieve suffering for patients and families, and save money for health systems and society. To direct effective health care planning and policy development, it is essential to understand both the current and future level of palliative care need.

"Our findings call for global policies to strengthen health care systems through availability of essential drugs to relieve symptoms, staff training and public education, with a focus on the populations that will experience the fastest rise of suffering and need. We have provided the first quantification of the scale of suffering we will witness if nothing is done."

Co-author Professor Richard Harding Herbert Dunhill Professor of Palliative Care & Rehabilitation at King's College London said: "Palliative care and the relief of suffering have been described as some of the most neglected dimensions of global health today. It is estimated that just 14% of the people who need palliative care globally receive it, most of whom are in high income countries.

"The increase in palliative care need that we have identified will place an enormous burden on already weak health systems, particularly in low and middle-income countries. There is growing evidence that investment in palliative care services can support patients and families, as well as take pressure off hospital services by keeping people pain-free at home for as long as they wish. Society has a duty to provide care for all to the last moments of life."