Effects of palliative care consultation service on decedents experiencing end-stage heart failure: a 4-year observational study

Abstract Background Patients experiencing end-stage heart failure are a particularly important population who carry with them a heavy disease burden. However, evidence related to palliative care for patients with end-stage heart failure remains scarce, particularly when it comes to the issue of pall...

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Main Authors: Pei-Yu Chen, Lian-Shin Lin, Ling-Hui Huang, Szu-Pei Chien, Chin-Yi Chao, Jia-Jyun Wu, Chun-Li Wang, Lung-Chun Lee, Pi-Shan Hsu, Wei-Min Chu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Palliative Care
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01686-6
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author Pei-Yu Chen
Lian-Shin Lin
Ling-Hui Huang
Szu-Pei Chien
Chin-Yi Chao
Jia-Jyun Wu
Chun-Li Wang
Lung-Chun Lee
Pi-Shan Hsu
Wei-Min Chu
author_facet Pei-Yu Chen
Lian-Shin Lin
Ling-Hui Huang
Szu-Pei Chien
Chin-Yi Chao
Jia-Jyun Wu
Chun-Li Wang
Lung-Chun Lee
Pi-Shan Hsu
Wei-Min Chu
author_sort Pei-Yu Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Patients experiencing end-stage heart failure are a particularly important population who carry with them a heavy disease burden. However, evidence related to palliative care for patients with end-stage heart failure remains scarce, particularly when it comes to the issue of palliative care consultation service (PCCS). This 4-year observational study aimed to evaluate the effects of PCCS on opioid use and aggressive treatment during end of life (EOL) among patients diagnosed with end-stage heart failure. Methods This observational study used the hospice palliative care database of a tertiary medical center in Taiwan. We enrolled all decedents who were diagnosed with end-stage heart failure from the period January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021. PCCS prior to death was documented with the relationship between PCCS and opioid use and treatment aggressiveness during EOL then analyzed through use of multivariable logistic regression. Results A total of 120 patients were enrolled, which included 60 (50.0%) patients with end-stage heart failure who received PCCS prior to death. Compared with patients who did not receive PCCS, patients with PCCS during EOL were found to have had significantly more opioids use (odds ratio and 95% confidence interval: 3.192, 1.311–7.768) as well as a greater likelihood of their hospitalization extending for more than 14 days (odds ratio and 95% confidence interval: 4.454, 1.863–10.651) during EOL. Even though patients who received PCCS did not experience significantly different combined treatment aggressiveness during EOL, they received less CPR and had more DNR consent orders. Moreover, the promotion of PCCS increased disease awareness in both patients and their families. Conclusion PCCS in patients diagnosed with end-stage heart failure during EOL could significantly increase their opioid use and reduce some forms of aggressive treatments during EOL.
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spelling doaj-art-9662ed0becd145b4a4e01acdf7b65c1a2025-08-20T02:11:43ZengBMCBMC Palliative Care1472-684X2025-04-0124111110.1186/s12904-025-01686-6Effects of palliative care consultation service on decedents experiencing end-stage heart failure: a 4-year observational studyPei-Yu Chen0Lian-Shin Lin1Ling-Hui Huang2Szu-Pei Chien3Chin-Yi Chao4Jia-Jyun Wu5Chun-Li Wang6Lung-Chun Lee7Pi-Shan Hsu8Wei-Min Chu9Department of Family Medicine, Taichung Veterans General HospitalDepartment of Nursing, Taichung Veterans General HospitalDepartment of Nursing, Taichung Veterans General HospitalSchool of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical UniversityDepartment of Nursing, Taichung Veterans General HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Taichung Veterans General HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Taichung Veterans General HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Taichung Veterans General HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Taichung Veterans General HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Taichung Veterans General HospitalAbstract Background Patients experiencing end-stage heart failure are a particularly important population who carry with them a heavy disease burden. However, evidence related to palliative care for patients with end-stage heart failure remains scarce, particularly when it comes to the issue of palliative care consultation service (PCCS). This 4-year observational study aimed to evaluate the effects of PCCS on opioid use and aggressive treatment during end of life (EOL) among patients diagnosed with end-stage heart failure. Methods This observational study used the hospice palliative care database of a tertiary medical center in Taiwan. We enrolled all decedents who were diagnosed with end-stage heart failure from the period January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021. PCCS prior to death was documented with the relationship between PCCS and opioid use and treatment aggressiveness during EOL then analyzed through use of multivariable logistic regression. Results A total of 120 patients were enrolled, which included 60 (50.0%) patients with end-stage heart failure who received PCCS prior to death. Compared with patients who did not receive PCCS, patients with PCCS during EOL were found to have had significantly more opioids use (odds ratio and 95% confidence interval: 3.192, 1.311–7.768) as well as a greater likelihood of their hospitalization extending for more than 14 days (odds ratio and 95% confidence interval: 4.454, 1.863–10.651) during EOL. Even though patients who received PCCS did not experience significantly different combined treatment aggressiveness during EOL, they received less CPR and had more DNR consent orders. Moreover, the promotion of PCCS increased disease awareness in both patients and their families. Conclusion PCCS in patients diagnosed with end-stage heart failure during EOL could significantly increase their opioid use and reduce some forms of aggressive treatments during EOL.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01686-6Heart failureEnd-of-lifePalliative care consultation serviceAggressiveness
spellingShingle Pei-Yu Chen
Lian-Shin Lin
Ling-Hui Huang
Szu-Pei Chien
Chin-Yi Chao
Jia-Jyun Wu
Chun-Li Wang
Lung-Chun Lee
Pi-Shan Hsu
Wei-Min Chu
Effects of palliative care consultation service on decedents experiencing end-stage heart failure: a 4-year observational study
BMC Palliative Care
Heart failure
End-of-life
Palliative care consultation service
Aggressiveness
title Effects of palliative care consultation service on decedents experiencing end-stage heart failure: a 4-year observational study
title_full Effects of palliative care consultation service on decedents experiencing end-stage heart failure: a 4-year observational study
title_fullStr Effects of palliative care consultation service on decedents experiencing end-stage heart failure: a 4-year observational study
title_full_unstemmed Effects of palliative care consultation service on decedents experiencing end-stage heart failure: a 4-year observational study
title_short Effects of palliative care consultation service on decedents experiencing end-stage heart failure: a 4-year observational study
title_sort effects of palliative care consultation service on decedents experiencing end stage heart failure a 4 year observational study
topic Heart failure
End-of-life
Palliative care consultation service
Aggressiveness
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01686-6
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