Overview

• The American Heart Association issued a scientific statement recommending that palliative care be embedded into cardiovascular care to address physical, emotional, and decision-making needs.
• Studies highlight benefits of palliative care in heart failure, including better symptom control, improved emotional health, and reduced hospitalizations.
• Despite proven advantages, adoption remains limited due to resource constraints, access issues, and low referral rates outside major hospitals.
• Ethical challenges, such as decisions on deactivating life-sustaining devices, underscore the need for multidisciplinary collaboration and patient-centered approaches.
• Training for cardiovascular clinicians in palliative care competencies is essential to ensure patient goals and values are prioritized in treatment decisions.