Caregivers of people with heart failure were significantly less likely to access specialist palliative care services compared to caregivers of people with other conditions (38.1% vs 60.9%, p<0.0001).
Cross-Sectional (n=1,504)
What are the characteristics, unmet needs, and rates of palliative care access for caregivers of people with heart failure compared to caregivers for other terminal conditions?
Caregivers for people with heart failure experience significant burden over extended periods and have significantly less access to palliative care services compared to caregivers for other terminal conditions.
Absolute Event Rate: 38.1% vs 60.9%
p-value: p=<0.0001
BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is a frequent condition in the elderly and mortality is high. This study sought to describe the profile of those providing care in the community and their needs. METHODS: The South Australian Health Omnibus is an annual, random, face-to-face, cross sectional survey conducted within the state. Having standardized data to the whole population, the study describes the subset of the population who identify that they actively cared for someone at the end of life with HF in the five years before survey administration. RESULTS: Three hundred and seventy three respondents (2.0% of the whole population; 4.9% of caregivers) reported being a caregiver of someone with HF. There were 84 active caregivers (day-to-day or intermittent hands on caregivers) for people with HF. Mean age for caregivers for those with HF was much higher than other caregivers (55.7 vs 49.4; p < 0.001) with care lasting for an average of 48.9 months (SD 66.2). People caring for those with HF were far less likely to access specialist palliative care services (38.1% vs 60.9%; p < 0.0001) despite having much greater levels of unmet needs for physical care 28.3% vs 14.1%; p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Study findings suggest that there is a significant burden placed on caregivers for people with HF over extended periods in the community. There are differences in access to services for these caregivers compared to those dying from other conditions, particularly cancer.
Davidson et al. (Tue,) conducted a cross-sectional in Caregivers of people with heart failure at the end of life (n=1,504). Caregiving for someone with heart failure vs. Caregiving for someone with a diagnosis other than heart failure was evaluated on Access to specialist palliative care services (p=<0.0001). Caregivers of people with heart failure were significantly less likely to access specialist palliative care services compared to caregivers of people with other conditions (38.1% vs 60.9%, p<0.0001).