CONGRESS ABSTRACT

Despite advances in medical therapies, many patients with heart failure continue to suffer from debilitating symptoms that profoundly affect their quality of life. For this reason, palliative care, traditionally reserved for terminal oncological diseases, is becoming a complementary strategy for patients with heart failure. Palliative care offers a comprehensive, multidisciplinary model of care that, in addition to controlling physical symptoms, also addresses the psychological, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the patient, improving overall well-being. Palliative care is expanding its scope to include patients in non-terminal stages of the disease, with the goal of alleviating symptoms, improving quality of life, and possibly positively influencing treatment outcomes. Early integration of these models in the early stages can reduce the symptomatic burden and support more effective disease management. Despite these evident potential benefits, palliative care has not yet been fully integrated into the treatment of patients with heart failure, due to a cultural gap among cardiology professionals. Palliative care is often associated exclusively with end-of-life care, limiting its adoption and understanding in the cardiology field. A survey conducted at the IRCCS AOU di Bologna,Policlinico Sant'Orsola revealed a limited understanding of the principles and regulations of palliative care among medical and non-medical professionals working in heart failure settings, with a common bias linking it to imminent death. To bridge this gap, two training events were organized for October and November 2024, targeted at cardiology staff with the support of the palliative care network. The courses covered topics such as Italian regulations, communication of bad news, management of refractory symptoms, and assessment tools like SPICT and IPOS. From January to June 2025, the NAT:PD-HF tool will be tested in heart failure clinics. This tool can identify the unmet needs of patients and caregivers, supporting professionals in requesting consultations or referrals to the palliative care network. After the trial, data on referrals to the palliative care network will be analyzed, comparing them to the six months prior. This evaluation will measure the effectiveness of the training intervention in promoting greater collaboration between cardiology and palliative care, contributing to improving the quality of life for patients with heart failure and their families.