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Published on: January 21, 2018

Management of end-stage heart failure: improving palliative care

Reid Love1, Jo-Ann V Sawatzky

  • 112 Demers Place, Winnipeg, MB R3V 1W4. rlovern@shaw.ca

Canadian Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing = Journal Canadien En Soins Infirmiers Cardio-Vasculaires
|October 19, 2007
PubMed

Insights

End-stage heart failure patients experience severe suffering, yet often lack adequate end-of-life care compared to terminal cancer patients. This review explores barriers to palliative care for heart failure and proposes solutions for timely access.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Palliative Care
  • Geriatric Medicine

Background:

  • Over 400,000 Canadians live with heart failure, a condition with a high mortality rate.
  • End-stage heart failure patients experience suffering comparable to terminal cancer patients.
  • Disparities exist in end-of-life care provision for heart failure patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify barriers hindering palliative care access for end-stage heart failure.
  • To discuss challenges in classification, prognostic markers, and medical management.
  • To propose solutions for timely palliative care integration and peaceful death.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and critical analysis of current research on heart failure management and palliative care.
  • Examination of existing classification systems and prognostic markers.
  • Discussion of medical management strategies and their impact on palliative care.

Main Results:

  • Current classification systems, lack of prognostic markers, and medical management impede palliative care implementation.
  • Significant suffering in end-stage heart failure is often undertreated palliatively.
  • Barriers prevent timely transition to palliative and end-of-life care.

Conclusions:

  • Addressing classification, prognosis, and management issues is crucial for improving palliative care for heart failure.
  • Effective and timely palliative care can ensure a peaceful death for end-stage heart failure patients.
  • Further research and policy changes are needed to bridge the gap in end-of-life care.

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