Introduction and Scope of the Problem Heart failure is a chronic and progressive illness frequently associated with multiple comorbidities and is a leading cause of death in the United States. The illness is reaching epidemic numbers: an estimated 6.2 million…
Introduction and Scope of the Problem Neurodegenerative diseases affect adults of all ages and are associated with complex physical and neuropsychiatric symptoms, progressive functional impairments, and high levels of personal and caregiver suffering. Although amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis…
Introduction and Scope of the Problem Every year in the United States, approximately 795,000 people experience a stroke, meaning someone has a stroke approximately every 40 seconds. Of all strokes, the majority (87%) are ischemic, with 10% due to intracerebral…
Introduction and Scope of the Problem Worldwide, chronic liver disease (CLD), including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), leads to approximately 2 million deaths annually. The major causes of CLD include viral hepatitis, alcohol-associated liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and…
Introduction and Scope of the Problem Chronic liver disease (CLD) refers to a spectrum of hepatic conditions, including those that lead to reduced liver function, such as cirrhosis, and primary malignancies affecting the hepatobiliary system, most commonly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).…
Introduction and Scope of the Problem A growing body of literature shows that individuals with dementia receive suboptimal palliative care. Symptoms such as pain, dyspnea, and agitation are common, occurring in 40% to 50% of patients with advanced dementia. These…
Introduction and Scope of the Problem Dementia is a clinical syndrome associated with significant changes in cognition, behavior, and functional status. It is characterized by the development of multiple cognitive and behavioral impairments involving at least two of the following…
Introduction and Scope of the Problem Children rarely develop the cancers that predominate in high-income countries in adulthood, including breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer. Instead, children develop leukemias, lymphomas, brain tumors, and extracranial solid tumors arising…
Introduction and Scope of the Problem Children with cancer and their families face sudden and profound life changes brought on by the diagnosis of a serious illness. Cancer remains one of the most life-threatening childhood illnesses. Children with cancer and…
Introduction and Scope of the Problem The hematologic malignancies consist of a broad group of disorders comprising approximately 10% of new cancer diagnoses each year in the United States. Patients with hematological malignancies experience widely varying clinical trajectories, prognoses, and…