50% of patients with heart failure (all classes) die within 4 years and 50% of those with class IV heart failure die within 1 year.
Symptoms: The physical and psychological symptom burden from heart failure in the dying phase is similar to that in the cancer patient in the dying phase.
Symptom frequency: pain (78%), dyspnoea (61%), depression (59%), insomnia (45%), anorexia (43%), anxiety (30%), constipation (37%), nausea/vomiting (32%), fatigue (62-70%), difficulty ambulating, and oedema.