Table 2.
Characteristics of Patients served by Cardiac Palliative Care Program
Variable | Total (n=7) |
---|---|
Diagnoses managed – no (%) | |
Heart failure | 7/7 (100) |
Heart transplants | 6/7 (86) |
Aortic stenosis | 3/7 (43) |
Pulmonary arterial hypertension | 4/7 (57) |
Lung transplants | 3/7 (43) |
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 5/7 (71) |
Interstitial lung disease | 4/7 (57) |
Cystic fibrosis | 2/7 (29) |
Chronic kidney disease | 3/7 (43) |
Dementia | 4/7 (57) |
Other | 1/7 (14) |
Average NYHA Class of HF patients | |
III | 2/5 (40) |
IV | 3/5 (60) |
Proportion of LVAD recipients – % | 15 [1–100] |
Proportion of patients cared for until the time of death – % | 50 [10–50] |
Proportion of patients referred to hospice – % | 25 [10–40] |
Proportion of patients dying in hospital – % | 30 [20–50] |
Program characteristics were estimated by program leaders in an online survey. Categorical variables are presented as number (percentage). Numeric variables are presented as median [range from minimum to maximum]. Abbreviations: HF, heart failure; LVAD, left ventricular assist device; NYHA, New York Heart Association.