Underused palliative care could aid stroke survivors

Underused palliative care could aid stroke survivors
JAMA; Samantha Anderer; 1/25
Every year in the US, 800,000 people experience strokes, and although most survive, current treatment plans fail to adequately address their physical, emotional, psychosocial, and spiritual distress, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Palliative care could aid in the quality of life for both patients and their families by helping during all stages of poststroke care, including adapting to functional changes, navigating complex health care systems, and preparing for death when necessary. Although all affected individuals could benefit from palliative care, the statement noted that it is most underused in Black and Hispanic populations, which tend to have a higher incidence of stroke, worse functional outcomes, and a lower likelihood of receiving acute stroke treatments.