American Heart Association Highlights Benefits of Palliative Care for Critical Cardiovascular Patients

According to a recent scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA), integrating palliative care into the treatment plans for individuals with severe cardiovascular disease can significantly improve their quality of life and symptom management. Palliative care, traditionally associated with cancer care, is now recognized as a valuable approach for patients at all stages of cardiac illness, whether hospitalized in intensive care units or receiving outpatient services.

This comprehensive care approach helps address physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychosocial needs, facilitating complex conversations about prognosis and treatment goals in alignment with patient values and beliefs. Notably, the AHA emphasizes that palliative care should be provided alongside evidence-based treatments, not just at the end of life.

The scientific statement outlines strategies for incorporating palliative principles into managing various cardiovascular conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and adult congenital heart disease. For example, in heart failure patients, palliative care has been associated with improved physical function, reduced depression, and lower healthcare utilization. Similarly, for patients with severe chest pain due to coronary artery disease, palliative care offers symptom relief and supports better end-of-life communication.

Special attention is directed at the challenges in delivering palliative care within cardiac intensive care environments. The unpredictable progression of cardiovascular illnesses, along with the presence of multiple comorbidities in older, critically ill patients, necessitates a specialized understanding among healthcare providers. The statement advocates for integrating palliative care into cardiac clinics, especially during transitions from inpatient to outpatient care.

Ethical considerations, such as decisions around life-sustaining interventions and device management, are also discussed, highlighting the importance of shared decision-making involving patients and families. The report calls for enhanced education and training for cardiology professionals to develop competencies in symptom management, communication, and ethical decision-making.

Despite the benefits, access to palliative care remains limited for many cardiovascular patients, often due to delayed referrals or resource constraints. The AHA recommends integrating palliative services into routine cardiovascular care and promoting early discussions about patient preferences to foster holistic, patient-centered treatment.

This evolving perspective underscores the need for a multidisciplinary, compassionate approach to managing critical heart diseases, ultimately aiming to align treatment with what matters most to patients.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-aha-people-critical-cardiovascular-disease.html