Palliative Care in Heart Failure: The PAL-HF Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Advanced heart failure (HF) is characterized by high morbidity and mortality. Conventional therapy may not sufficiently reduce patient suffering and maximize quality of life.

Objectives

The authors investigated whether an interdisciplinary palliative care intervention in addition to evidence-based HF care improves certain outcomes.

Methods

The authors randomized 150 patients with advanced HF between August 15, 2012, and June 25, 2015, to usual care (UC) (n = 75) or UC plus a palliative care intervention (UC + PAL) (n = 75) at a single center. Primary endpoints were 2 quality-of-life measurements, the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) overall summary and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Palliative Care scale (FACIT-Pal), ass

SUBMITTER: Rogers JG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5664956 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature