Palliative care and paediatric cardiology: current evidence and future directions

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Palliative Care
• Congenital Heart Disease

Background:

• Heart disease is a leading cause of death in children, with advanced cases leading to high morbidity and frequent hospitalizations.
• Current care for advanced pediatric heart disease is multidisciplinary, with growing interest in earlier palliative care integration.
• Despite improvements, significant challenges remain in managing complex pediatric cardiovascular conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the literature on palliative care in pediatric advanced heart disease over the past decade.
• To identify gaps in parental and provider understanding of prognosis and communication.
• To propose indications for palliative care consultation and summarize attitudes and barriers.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies published in the last 10 years.
• Analysis of parent and provider understanding, communication, and attitudes towards palliative care.
• Identification of research gaps and areas for future study.

Main Results:

• Gaps exist in parent and provider understanding of prognosis and communication in pediatric advanced heart disease.
• Specific indications for palliative care consultation are proposed.
• Attitudes and perceived barriers to palliative care integration were summarized.

Conclusions:

• Earlier palliative care integration is crucial for children with advanced heart disease.
• Further research is needed on cardiologist education, parental distress, socioeconomic factors, and patient-reported outcomes.
• Interdisciplinary efforts are essential to advance palliative care in this population.