The palliative care in heart failure trial: rationale and design

Am Heart J. 2014 Nov;168(5):645-651.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2014.07.018. Epub 2014 Jul 30.

Abstract

Background: The progressive nature of heart failure (HF) coupled with high mortality and poor quality of life mandates greater attention to palliative care as a routine component of advanced HF management. Limited evidence exists from randomized, controlled trials supporting the use of interdisciplinary palliative care in HF.

Methods: PAL-HF is a prospective, controlled, unblinded, single-center study of an interdisciplinary palliative care intervention in 200 patients with advanced HF estimated to have a high likelihood of mortality or rehospitalization in the ensuing 6 months. The 6-month PAL-HF intervention focuses on physical and psychosocial symptom relief, attention to spiritual concerns, and advanced care planning. The primary end point is health-related quality of life measured by the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy with Palliative Care Subscale score at 6 months. Secondary end points include changes in anxiety/depression, spiritual well-being, caregiver satisfaction, cost and resource utilization, and a composite of death, HF hospitalization, and quality of life.

Conclusions: PAL-HF is a randomized, controlled clinical trial that will help evaluate the efficacy and cost effectiveness of palliative care in advanced HF using a patient-centered outcome as well as clinical and economic end points.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01589601.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Advance Care Planning
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Heart Failure / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Palliative Care / economics
  • Palliative Care / methods*
  • Quality of Life
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Spirituality
  • Treatment Outcome

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01589601