Palliative care linked to better choices for cardiac arrest patients

This narrative review looks at how palliative care affects patients with cardiac arrest and cardiogenic shock. The study covers patients and their caregivers in inpatient settings. It found that palliative care was linked to more do-not-resuscitate orders and more withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments. Healthcare use and costs also decreased when palliative care was involved. These results show a connection between palliative care and these outcomes. No safety concerns were reported because the review did not track specific adverse events. The authors note that patient-centered outcomes have not been studied enough. Major gaps exist in how palliative care is measured and delivered. Clinicians, researchers, and policymakers should use this review to guide their work. Readers should remember that this is a review and not a trial. The evidence shows links but does not prove cause and effect. More research is needed to fill the gaps in care delivery and equity.