Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and interstitial lung disease often live for years with severe breathlessness and high symptom burden—yet many are referred to palliative care far too late.

New guidance from the European Respiratory Society emphasizes that palliative care should not be tied to prognosis or reserved for the final stages of illness. Instead, it should be introduced early and provided alongside active treatment to relieve suffering, support patients and caregivers, and improve quality of life.

By focusing on symptom burden rather than timelines, clinicians can ensure that patients receive the support they need—when they need it most.