Characteristics of Patients Undergoing Outpatient Palliative Care Evaluation for Advanced Cardiac Therapies

The characteristics of patients undergoing outpatient evaluation for advanced cardiac therapies are largely unknown, and there may be commonalities among them that could unlock preventive strategies to reduce future risk. To better understand the demographics of advanced therapy patients, a new study aimed to examine the life differences among patients undergoing cardiac palliative care. ConcertoCare Medical Director Todd Barrett, MD recently participated in a study of more than 50 patients that revealed high levels of anxiety and depression and frailty in these patients. This is important to note for interdisciplinary care teams to help properly manage the needs of this complex population. These results can inform efforts to integrate palliative care into advanced cardiac therapy and improve patients’ experiences. Read the full article here.