End-of-Life Care in the Critical Care Unit for Patients With Heart Failure

Predicting the progression of heart failure is difficult, and changes in treatment may be needed.

More than 5 million persons in the United States have heart failure; among persons more than 65 years old, the incidence is 10 cases per 1000 population.¹ Heart failure accounts for more hospitalizations than does any other condition, and the mortality rate is high: 1 in 5 patients dies within 1 year of diagnosis, and approximately 50% die within 5 years of diagnosis.¹ Approximately 1 million patients are hospitalized yearly with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), and registry data indicate a 4% hospital mortality rate for patients with ADHF who have a primary or secondary diagnosis of heart failure at the time of hospitalization.² The likelihood of death during ADHF is high, and rehospitalization is significantly greater than for patients who have a similar period of chronic but stable heart failure.^3...