Heart failure represents the 9th leading cause of death in Australia1. Despite advances in medical and interventional management, it continues to cause significant burden to patients and their care givers, particularly in older patients. There is no doubt that management of patients with chronic heart failure should receive equal input from palliative care to those with other life limiting diseases, to address symptoms, goals of care and advanced care planning (ACP). There are, however, challenges in incorporating palliative medicine to heart failure management. These challenges include uncertainty of the congested cardiac failure (CCF)disease trajectory, lack of awareness among health professionals and the community of the potential role and benefit of palliative care, and limited evidence in symptom management of heart failure.
