[Palliative care in cardiology]

Abstract

Chronic heart failure is a progressive disease with an increasing prevalence. In spite of all medical progress (or thanks to it), it is finally one of the most common causes of death. Palliative care is an approach aimed to improve the quality of life of patients and their families in cases of life-threatening illness. Therefore, the use of palliative care in cardiology is entirely relevant. Estimating the course and prognosis of a patient with chronic heart failure is difficult despite many prognostic tools. This makes it difficult to find the moment when palliative care is to begin. In general, gradual accentuation of treatment is recommended, focusing on the symptoms of the chronic progressive disease trajectory, and a reassessment of the benefit and potential adverse effects of conventional therapy. The main aspects of palliative care in cardiology are: 1. long-term communication with the patient and the family and their continuous education; 2. symptom-based treatment; 3. planning of advanced care; 4. A multidisciplinary team trying to meet all the patient's personality needs. Accepting palliative care as a part of complex care is a great challenge for the future of cardiology in the Czech Republic.Key words: heart failure, palliative care, cardiology.