The American Heart Association (AHA) has released new guidance urging doctors to include palliative care in treatment plans for older patients with heart disease. Published in the journal Circulation, the scientific statement explains how palliative care can improve quality of life and manage symptoms at every stage of cardiovascular illness.
Although heart disease is common among older adults, palliative care is still rarely used for these patients. The statement notes that only 10% to 15% of people with certain heart conditions receive referrals for palliative care. This is much lower than rates seen in cancer care.
The authors highlight that cardiac intensive care units now see more patients with complex or end-stage heart disease.
These patients often have additional non-heart-related illnesses, making their care more complicated.
For older patients, palliative care helps control symptoms like pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue. It also provides emotional and spiritual support. This type of care helps patients and doctors make treatment decisions that respect the patient’s values and wishes.
The statement encourages all heart specialists to learn basic palliative care skills. These include managing pain, discussing prognosis, and setting treatment goals. For example, patients with advanced heart valve disease can use palliative care to decide whether they want to focus on easing symptoms rather than extending life.
As the population ages, this guidance becomes even more important. The average age of patients in cardiac intensive care units is 65, and many have several chronic health problems. These factors make palliative care strategies especially valuable.
The AHA calls on hospitals and clinics to improve training for heart doctors in palliative care. It also urges the development of better systems to provide these services both in hospitals and outpatient settings. The goal is to ensure that older adults with heart disease receive coordinated and patient-centered care.
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