1. Palliative Care in Heart Failure: Rationale, Evidence, and Future Priorities.
- Author
-
Kavalieratos D, Gelfman LP, Tycon LE, Riegel B, Bekelman DB, Ikejiani DZ, Goldstein N, Kimmel SE, Bakitas MA, and Arnold RM
- Subjects
- Disease Progression, Humans, Patient Care Team organization & administration, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Severity of Illness Index, Family Health, Heart Failure physiopathology, Heart Failure psychology, Heart Failure therapy, Palliative Care methods, Palliative Care organization & administration, Palliative Care psychology, Palliative Care trends, Patient Comfort, Quality of Life
- Abstract
Patients with heart failure (HF) and their families experience stress and suffering from a variety of sources over the course of the HF experience. Palliative care is an interdisciplinary service and an overall approach to care that improves quality of life and alleviates suffering for those living with serious illness, regardless of prognosis. In this review, we synthesize the evidence from randomized clinical trials of palliative care interventions in HF. While the evidence base for palliative care in HF is promising, it is still in its infancy and requires additional high-quality, methodologically sound studies to clearly elucidate the role of palliative care for patients and families living with the burdens of HF. Yet, an increase in attention to primary palliative care (e.g., basic physical and emotional symptom management, advance care planning), provided by primary care and cardiology clinicians, may be a vehicle to address unmet palliative needs earlier and throughout the illness course., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF