Prognostication or identification of palliative needs in advanced heart failure: where should the focus lie?

• Published in: Heart (British Cardiac Society) Vol. 98; no. 7; pp. 523 - 524
• Main Authors: Hogg, Karen J, Jenkins, Shona M M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Cardiovascular Society 01.04.2012; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Accuracy; Aorta; arrhythmias; cardiac function; cardiac surgery; Collaboration; Death & dying; Female; great vessels and trauma; Heart failure; Heart Failure - epidemiology; Hospice care; Humans; Life Expectancy; Male; Medical prognosis; Mortality; Palliative care; Patient admissions; Population Surveillance - methods
• ISSN: 1355-6037; 1468-201X
• DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2012-301753

[...]a large Scottish epidemiological study based on a national database of over 12 000 patients comprising 4877 deaths over 3 years demonstrated that 73% of all HF deaths occurred in hospital. 12 Hospital deaths are costly, and many patients would choose to die at home if possible. 13 Several large surveys of the public have been undertaken in recent years to ascertain people's preferences and priorities in relation to end of life care. While preferences and priorities may change as death approaches the main findings were that most people would prefer to be cared for at home provided high quality care can be assured and minimal burden is placed on their families and carers. 14 Previous studies have demonstrated that matching end-stage HF patients' preferred place of death with actual place of death is possible with collaboration between cardiology, palliative care and primary care.