Beyond Heart “Failure”: Why Spirituality Matters

Abstract

Heart failure exemplifies a paradox of contemporary cardiology: as the possibilities for prolonging life and characterizing the disease with precision expand, aspects of the human experience that often shape how patients live with the condition remain insufficiently explored. In this review, spirituality is presented as a relevant dimension of person-centered care, highlighting its distinction from religiosity, its relationship with the experience of illness, and its potential role in promoting a more comprehensive approach to heart failure.