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Palliative care in patients with heart failure
Colleen K McIlvennan1, Larry A Allen2
1Section of Advanced Heart Failure and Transplantation, Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA Adult and Child Center for Health Outcomes and Research and Delivery Sciences, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA Colorado Cardiovascular Outcomes Research Consortium, Denver, CO, USA.
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.)
|April 16, 2016
Summary
Palliative care offers crucial support for heart failure (HF) patients by managing symptoms and aiding families. Integrating this care into HF management faces challenges but presents opportunities for improved patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Palliative Medicine
Background:
- Heart failure (HF) is a progressive, symptomatic, and life-threatening condition with significant patient and healthcare system burdens.
- Palliative care is a multidisciplinary approach addressing physical, psychological, and spiritual needs, supporting patients and families through illness and bereavement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current literature on the role of palliative care in heart failure management.
- To identify challenges and opportunities for integrating palliative care into routine heart failure treatment.
Main Methods:
- This review summarizes existing research on palliative care in heart failure.
- It examines barriers and facilitators to its integration into clinical practice.
Main Results:
- Palliative care can be applied across all stages of heart failure, often alongside life-prolonging therapies.
- Suboptimal integration is attributed to disease trajectory uncertainty, communication issues, fragmented care, knowledge gaps, comorbidities, and limited evidence.
Conclusions:
- Despite challenges, palliative care integration in heart failure is essential for comprehensive patient support.
- Future directions involve strengthening collaboration between palliative care and heart failure specialists to enhance care delivery.
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