Differences between patients with cardiovascular disease and cancer referred for palliative care

Am Heart J. 2021 Mar:233:5-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2020.11.016. Epub 2020 Dec 8.

Abstract

Our analysis from a national registry shows that compared to cancer, cardiovascular disease patients referred to palliative care are a decade older, have worse functional status and clinician-estimated prognosis. Both groups have very high symptom burden, with cardiovascular disease patients experiencing more dyspnea while pain, nausea, and fatigue are more common in cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Cancer Pain
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / complications
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / therapy*
  • Cost of Illness
  • Dyspnea / etiology
  • Fatigue / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Nausea / etiology
  • Neoplasms / complications
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Odds Ratio
  • Palliative Care*
  • Physical Functional Performance
  • Prognosis
  • Referral and Consultation
  • Registries