title: Dying trajectories in heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore dying trajectories in heart failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, longitudinal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen GP surgeries in four demographically contrasting areas of the UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 27 heart failure patients, >60 years of age, who completed questionnaires for at least five time-points before death.
  
  
  METHODS
  Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Physical Limitation Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No 'typical' dying trajectory could be identified, and only a minority of patients conformed to the theoretical trajectory of dying in heart failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides the first prospective data regarding physical decline prior to death in heart failure. Findings challenge current efforts to plan and deliver palliative care services on the basis of the theoretical heart failure dying trajectory.
authors.affiliation: Sheffield Institute for Studies on Ageing, University of Sheffield, Sheffield.
authors.forename: Merryn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gott
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seamark
authors.forename: Salah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gariballa
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Small
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003643:Death; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D019452:Terminally Ill / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*