Understanding the palliative care needs of heart failure patients

It is increasingly recognised that end-of-life care is suboptimal, especially for those with advanced non-malignant diseases. This study shows that individuals living with heart failure have a number of palliative care needs, including education, communication, symptom management and psychosocial needs. Clinicians struggled to discuss palliation with heart failure patients due to the unclear disease trajectory and cardiac-specific barriers to identifying palliation needs. Carers reported a need for greater social support and better guidance on best practice care. Furthermore, patients struggled to cope physically and psychologically with their reduced physical capabilities and were fearful of being a burden to their carers. Both patients and clinicians recognised a discontinuity between secondary and primary care, which has particular resonance in the context of the intention to relocate care nearer home.