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.