Palliative Care for Symptomatic Heart Failure: A New Paradigm

Abstract

The nation’s largest, fastest growing, and costliest patient population are those living with symptomatic heart failure (HF). Patients with HF live, on average, for 5 years. Preventing the escalation of symptoms or an exacerbation is key when optimizing patient quality of life. Earlier integration of palliative symptom management can reduce exacerbation, prevent debility, maintain physical functioning, improve costly hospitalization, and improve patient quality of life. The current trends in policy and practice provide an important paradigm for the nurse practitioner when effectively managing the patient with HF.