Failing the failing heart: a review of palliative care in heart failure.

Heart failure (HF) is the most common reason for hospital admission for patients older than 65 years. With an aging population and improving survival in heart failure patients, the number of people living with HF continues to grow. As this population increases, the importance of treating symptoms of fatigue, dyspnea, pain, and depression that diminish the quality of life in HF patients becomes increasingly important.

An evaluation of the prevalence and severity of pain and other symptoms in acute decompensated heart failure.

Background: Heart failure is characterized by recurrent decompensations and persistent symptoms that decrease quality of life. Shortness of breath and fatigue are commonly identified symptoms but there is limited data on pain in heart failure patients. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) was used to identify the prevalence and severity of pain and other symptoms experienced by patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Pilot study of palliative care consultation in patients with advanced heart failure referred for cardiac transplantation.

Background: Heart failure (HF) in its chronic form is an irreversible and progressive disease. Palliative care (PC) interventions have traditionally been focused on patients with advanced cancer. We performed a pilot study to assess the feasibility of implementing the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines for early PC intervention in patients with advanced HF who were seeking or received potentially curative therapies.

Erectile dysfunction as a complication of heart failure.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is an increasingly common problem in the aging population and has been associated with chronic heart failure (HF), either as an epiphenomenon or even as an early marker for underlying cardiovascular disease. ED has a significant effect on patients' quality of life. This chapter reviews ED in patients with HF and prevention and treatment based on current data from the literature.