Culture, ethnicity, and socio‐economic status as determinants of the management of patients with advanced heart failure who need palliative care: A clinical consensus statement from the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC, the ESC Patient Forum, and the European Association of Palliative Care

Abstract

The delivery of effective healthcare entails the configuration and resourcing of health economies to address the burden of disease, including acute and chronic heart failure, that affects local populations. Increasing migration is leading to more multicultural and ethnically diverse societies worldwide, with migration research suggesting that minority populations are often subject to discrimination, socio‐economic disadvantage, and inequity of access to optimal clinical support. Within these contexts, the provision of person‐centred care requires medical and nursing staff to be aware of and become adept in navigating the nuances of cultural diversity, and how that can impact some individuals and families entrusted to their care. This paper will examine current evidence, provide practical guidance, and signpost professionals on developing cultural competence within the setting of patients with advanced heart failure who may benefit from palliative care.

September 2023 at a glance: focus on acute heart failure and health status

“…A clinical consensus statement from the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC, the ESC Patient Forum, and the European Association of Palliative Care summarized current evidence and provided a practical guidance. 3 The role of different cardiovascular (CV) imaging techniques in the assessment of left ventricular hypertrophy was reviewed in another HFA scientific statement. 4…”

December 2023 at a glance: Focus on medical therapy in chronic and acute heart failure

“…Lower socio-economic status has been associated with worse prognosis. 33 Bobrowski et al 34 examined the association between neighbourhood material deprivation, a metric estimating inability to attain basic material needs, with outcomes and processes of care among incident HF patients. Patients residing in the most deprived neighbourhoods had worse outcomes and reduced access to care than those less deprived.…”