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End-stage heart disease in the elderly.
Manuel Martínez-Sellés1, María Teresa Vidán, Ramón López-Palop
1Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Dr. Esquerdo 46, Madrid 28007, Spain. mmselles@secardiologia.es
Revista Espanola De Cardiologia
|April 30, 2009
Summary
This expert overview guides care for elderly patients with end-stage heart disease, emphasizing comprehensive evaluation and patient rights for improved end-of-life treatment and decision-making.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Geriatrics
- Palliative Care
Background:
- Elderly patients with heart disease are a heterogeneous group requiring careful evaluation.
- End-stage heart disease in the elderly presents unique challenges for treatment and clinical decision-making.
- Understanding the end-of-life phase is crucial for providing appropriate care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an expert overview of end-stage heart disease in the elderly.
- To enhance understanding of the final days of life for these patients.
- To improve treatment and clinical decision-making for elderly cardiac patients.
Main Methods:
- Expert consensus and review of current practices.
- Emphasis on thorough clinical evaluation, including comorbidities and functional status.
- Consideration of patient rights and wishes in treatment decisions.
Main Results:
- Comprehensive evaluation is essential to identify prognostic factors.
- Patient rights include freedom from suffering, respect for wishes, informed consent, and psychospiritual care.
- Palliative care should focus on symptom control and quality of life, not solely on aggressive treatments.
Conclusions:
- Palliative care is vital for elderly patients with advanced heart failure, aiming to optimize comfort and quality of life.
- Aggressive treatments should be avoided if they offer no benefit and consume resources.
- Respecting patient autonomy and ensuring comprehensive care are paramount in end-of-life cardiac management.
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