Racial Differences in Palliative Care Use in Heart Failure Decedents

Minoritized individuals experience greater heart failure (HF) incidence and mortality rates, yet racial disparities in palliative care (PC) in HF are unknown.

This retrospective study used electronic medical records to identify adults who were hospitalized at an academic health system and died due to HF between 2012 and 2018. Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined associations between decedents' characteristics and PC consultations (PCCs).

Of 1987 decedents, 45.8% (n = 911) received PCCs. Black decedents had 60% greater odds of receiving PCCs (OR = 1.60; 95% CI = 1.21-2.11) than whites. Median time from PCC to death was shorter among white than Black decedents (31.2 vs 51.5 days; P = .001). Mean age at death was younger among Black than white decedents (71.3 [14.8] vs 81.8 [12.3]; P < .001) and decedents of "other" races (71.3 [14.8] vs. 80.3 [10.4]; P = .001). Black decedents were more likely than whites to receive inotropes (54.4% vs 42.3%; P < .001) and to be admitted to hospitals (39.5% vs 29.7%; P < .001) and intensive care units in their last month (30.3% vs 18.3%; P < .001).

Findings suggest greater recognition of palliative-care needs among Black individuals with HF; however, most referrals to PC occur late in the disease trajectory.