endstage

Endstage, often written end-stage, is an adjective describing the final phase of a disease, condition, or process, typically signaling severe impairment and limited life expectancy. In medical usage, the term denotes a terminal or advanced stage in which disease-modifying treatments have little chance of success, and care is oriented toward comfort and quality of life. End-stage conditions commonly include kidney failure (end-stage renal disease), liver failure (end-stage liver disease), heart failure (end-stage heart failure), and advanced cancer, though it can apply to many chronic illnesses.

Prognosis in end-stage illness is variable and can be difficult to estimate accurately. Care goals should be discussed with patients and families, with a focus on palliative care and hospice when appropriate. Treatment plans may emphasize symptom control, psychosocial support, and advance care planning; some patients may pursue ongoing life-sustaining therapies depending on preferences and clinical circumstances, while others may opt to discontinue such treatments.

Terminology and scope may vary by discipline and context. In medical discussions, end-stage typically signals a shift from disease-modifying or curative approaches to comfort-focused care, often involving multidisciplinary teams and discussions about goals of care, quality of life, and ethical considerations.

In broader use, end-stage can describe the final phase of non-medical processes or systems, but within health care it specifically conveys terminal or near-terminal illness and its implications for management and decision making.