Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): Introduction
Heart failure (HF) is a prevalent medical condition, affecting approximately 6.7 million Americans. Patients with HF frequently experience comorbidities such as depression and anxiety, which can lead to diminished quality of life. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), palliative care may be beneficial for these patients in addressing their complex physical, mental, and social needs. Therefore, an assessment of palliative care involvement in HF patients is warranted to determine its impact on improving quality of life, alleviating symptoms such as dyspnea, depression, and anxiety.
Hypothesis
The aim is to assess the impact of palliative care interventions on the quality of life, dyspnea, anxiety, and depression in patients with HF.
Methods
A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on clinical trials retrieved from Scopus, Cochrane, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases from their inception until March 2024. Studies reporting on the impact of palliative care interventions on the quality of life of patients with HF were included. The primary outcome was the effect on quality of life, while the effects on dyspnea, depression, and anxiety were secondary outcomes. Data from the studies were pooled using RevMan V5.4, and changes in the mean difference from baseline and confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for each outcome.
Results
The meta-analysis included eleven studies, predominantly randomized controlled trials, with a total of 1662 participants, 812 of whom received palliative care interventions. The analysis revealed a significant improvement in the mean change from baseline within the intervention group compared to usual care. Specifically, the quality of life showed a mean difference change from the baseline of 1.35 (95% CI: 0.88 to 1.82), anxiety improved with a mean difference change from baseline of 0.30 (95% CI: 0.03 to 0.58), and dyspnea showed a mean difference change from baseline of 1.0 (95% CI: 0.74 to 1.26). However, there was no significant difference in the mean change from baseline for depression between both groups.
Conclusion
Palliative care interventions are associated with significant improvements in quality of life, anxiety, and dyspnea in patients with heart failure compared to usual care. However, there is no significant impact on depression. These findings support the integration of palliative care into the management of heart failure patients to enhance their overall well-being.