Helping Advanced Heart-Failure Patients Through Palliative Care

Provocative findings of improved quality of life and coping

Advanced heart failure (HF) is similar to advanced malignancies with respect to its impact on quality of life and survival. Palliative care is a mainstay in oncology, with studies demonstrating improved quality of life, lower costs, and perhaps prolonged life expectancy. Although American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines strongly recommend palliative care for selected patients with advanced HF, the recommendation is not based upon evidence from clinical trials.

This single-center study of palliative care enrolled 150 hospitalized or recently hospitalized patients with advanced HF and high predicted 30-day mortality (mean age, 71; 47% women; 45% with left ventricular ejection fraction >40%). Participants were random…

Reviewing Author

Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH, FACC, FAHA

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBristol Myers Squibb; CPC Clinical Research

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; American College of Cardiology Self-Assessment Program (SAP)

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology (Chair, Innovations Committee)