Key result
Palliative care for HF targets specific clinical and symptom management issues.
Why the study?
There is an opportunity for increased and earlier involvement of palliative care for patients with heart failure compared to cancer patients.
Emphasizes targeted symptom management in HF palliative care; leaves open optimal integration strategies for trials.
Liu et 1 report a large cohort study of palliative care (PC) consultations for 57272 hospitalized adult patients with a diagnosis of heart failure (HF) (16741 patients [12.4%]) or cancer (40531 patients [30.0%]), using the Palliative Care Quality Network database. A comparison of patient baseline characteristics, time to PC consultation, changes in symptom scores, care plan documentation, mortality, and hospice referrals is made between patients with HF and cancer. Liu et al 1 conclude that there is an opportunity for increased and earlier involvement of PC for patients with HF.
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Schwarz et al. (2020) conducted an editorial in Heart failure or cancer (n=57,272). Heart failure diagnosis vs. Cancer diagnosis was evaluated on Time to palliative care consultation, changes in symptom scores, care plan documentation, mortality, and hospice referrals. Palliative care consultations for hospitalized patients with heart failure (N=16,741) represent an opportunity for increased and earlier involvement compared to patients with cancer (N=40,531).
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