Korean Society of Heart Failure Guidelines for the Palliative Care and Hospice for Heart Failure Patients

Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in South Korea and imposes substantial physical, emotional, and economic burdens on patients, families, and society. Despite the high symptom burden and complex care needs of patients with HF, palliative care and hospice services remain underutilized owing to cultural, institutional, and knowledge-related barriers. This guideline from the Korean Society of Heart Failure (KSHF) provides evidence-based recommendations to integrate palliative and hospice care across the HF disease trajectory, with the aim of improving quality of life, alleviating suffering, and supporting holistic care for patients and their caregivers. By clarifying the role and scope of palliative care in HF, and suggesting models for collaborative care between cardiology and palliative teams, these recommendations seek to bridge the gap between HF and palliative care services in South Korea and to promote goal-concordant, patient-centered decision-making.