Integration of a palliative approach into heart failure care: a European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Associationposition paper

Loreena Hill*, Tal Prager Geller, Resham Baruah, James M. Beattie, Josiane Boyne, Noemi de Stoutz, Giuseppe Di Stolfo, Ekaterini Lambrinou, Anne K. Skibelund, Izabella Uchmanowicz, Frans H. Rutten, Jelena Celutkiene, Massimo Francesco Piepoli, Ewa A. Jankowska, Ovidiu Chioncel, Tuvia Ben Gal, Petar M. Seferovic, Frank Ruschitzka, Andrew J. S. Coats, Anna StrombergTiny Jaarsma

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology has published a previous position paper and various guidelines over the past decade recognizing the value of palliative care for those affected by this burdensome condition. Integrating palliative care into evidence-based heart failure management remains challenging for many professionals, as it includes the identification of palliative care needs, symptom control, adjustment of drug and device therapy, advance care planning, family and informal caregiver support, and trying to ensure a 'good death'. This new position paper aims to provide day-to-day practical clinical guidance on these topics, supporting the coordinated provision of palliation strategies as goals of care fluctuate along the heart failure disease trajectory. The specific components of palliative care for symptom alleviation, spiritual and psychosocial support, and the appropriate modification of guideline-directed treatment protocols, including drug deprescription and device deactivation, are described for the chronic, crisis and terminal phases of heart failure.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2327-2339
Number of pages13
JournalEuropean journal of heart failure
Volume22
Issue number12
Early online date4 Oct 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2020

Keywords

  • Heart failure
  • Palliative care
  • Clinical guidance
  • IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVERTER-DEFIBRILLATOR
  • PRESERVED EJECTION FRACTION
  • VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICES
  • OF-LIFE CARE
  • CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE
  • SCIENTIFIC STATEMENT
  • EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION
  • ELDERLY-PATIENTS
  • HEALTH-STATUS
  • OLDER-PEOPLE

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