Expanding the Paradigm for Cardiovascular Palliative Care

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Palliative Care Medicine

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading global cause of death, with significant morbidity and mortality impacting patient quality of life.
• Palliative care is established in heart failure management, improving patient-centered outcomes, but its role in other CVDs is less defined.
• Current guidelines incorporate palliative care for heart failure, yet its application across the spectrum of CVD remains uncertain.

Approach:

• This review examines the critical role of palliative care across diverse cardiovascular conditions, including ischemic heart disease, valvular disease, arrhythmias, peripheral artery disease, and adult congenital heart disease.
• It discusses general palliative care practices applicable to all cardiovascular patients and highlights the need for individualized, disease-specific palliative care models.
• The review identifies barriers to implementing cardiovascular palliative care and proposes a framework for future research and development.

Key Points:

• Palliative care offers significant benefits beyond heart failure, addressing quality of life and end-of-life care for all cardiovascular disease patients.
• Tailored palliative care strategies are essential for specific cardiovascular conditions to meet diverse patient needs.
• Implementing comprehensive cardiovascular palliative care is crucial for improving goal-concordant care.

Conclusions:

• Palliative care is vital across all stages of cardiovascular disease, from diagnosis to terminal care, enhancing patient well-being.
• Developing and studying specific cardiovascular palliative care models is necessary to overcome existing barriers and improve patient outcomes.
• A structured approach is recommended to advance cardiovascular palliative care, ensuring better goal-concordant care for this population.