Background: The relationship between palliative units and intensive care is an under-examined issue. \r\nObjectives: This study was aimed to investigate general characteristics of patients in palliative care unit(PCU) and patient transfers between these units and intensive care units(ICU).\r\nMethod: Patients who were followed up at the PCU were reviewed retrospectively. The study group patients were divided into three groups as a discharge, ICU transfer and exitus. The characteristics of patients receiving both palliative care after intensive care and intensive care after palliative care treatment were evaluated.\r\nResults: A total of 337 patients were followed in the PCU during the study period. 138 of these patients were admitted from the ICU. The mortality rate of the PCU was 16.3%(55 patients). The mortality were higher in patients with malignancy-related complications (p<0,001) and the discharge rate were higher in patients with orthopedic reasons(p=0.016). Exitus group had longer palliative hospitalizations(p=0.008), while ICU transfers group had longer hospitalizations(p<0.001). The mean Karnofsky Performance Score was significant higher in the discharge group (p < 0.001). Palliative care patients were transferred to ICU at a rate of 10.1%(n:34). The patients were mostly transferred into ICU for respiratory failure (91,2%), unconsciousness (82,4%), hemodynamic problems (70,6%) and infections (52,9%). The mortality rate was 97%(n:33) in the ICU transfer group. Only one patient (3%) was returned to palliative unit after ICU.\r\nConclusion: The patients with high mortality that would not benefit from intensive care treatment would be more suitable to follow up in the PCU in the end of their life.

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