The place for palliative medicine in cardiac care: What to know

Advertisement

A new scientific statement from the American Heart Association highlights the potential benefit of integrating palliative care into the treatment of patients with critical cardiovascular conditions.

The statement, published May 15 in Circulation, reviews strategies, as well as challenges and considerations unique to cardiovascular medicine, for incorporating palliative care practices into the specialty, according to a May 15 news release from the AHA.

Though most widely used for oncology patients, palliative care principles can be integrated into patient care at any stage of cardiovascular disease and any care setting, the release said. 

The statement addresses various cardiovascular conditions, including heart failure, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, adult congenital heart disease, valvular disease, arrhythmias and post-cardiac arrest.

“People with a variety of heart conditions face increasing symptoms, functional limitations and a need to align care with their personal preferences, beliefs and values – whether that’s to do everything possible or to prioritize comfort and quality of life,” Erin Bohula, MD, lead statement author and cardiologist at Boston-based Brigham & Women’s Hospital, said in the release. “A patient-centered approach needs to be considered, particularly when making decisions about available and sometimes invasive care options as their condition advances.”

Read the full statement here.

Advertisement

Next Up in Cardiology

Advertisement