2022 Volume 17 Issue 3 Pages 119-126
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the current status and related factors of End of Life discussions between heart failure patients and medical professionals. Method: We conducted a survey of medical records of patients who died between April 2015 and March 2020 in the Department of Cardiology, Kyoto University Hospital. We examined the presence or absence of discussions about prognosis and end-of-life care and their associated factors. Result: Of the 109 patients, prognosis was explained to 40 (36.7%) and discussion of end-of-life care was provided to 25 (22.9%). Age (younger), number of hospitalizations, palliative care team intervention, and end-of-life care discussions were associated with the prognostic explanations. Gender (male), number of hospitalizations, history of heart failure hospitalization, palliative care team intervention, and prognosis explanation were associated with the end-of-life care discussions. Conclusion: The study suggested that End of Life discussions in heart failure patients are currently focused on patients with severe and end-stage heart failure.
