Nurse-led and Interdisciplinary Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention Programmes: Spanish Cohort of the EUROACTION Project.

Abstract

Cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation programmes (CVPRP) are a preventive tool, which can reverse unhealthy behaviours and improve risk factor management. They have been successfully implemented in a variety of settings in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). The objective of this study is to evaluate an interdisciplinary and nurse-led cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation programme in patients with coronary heart disease. Six pairs of hospitals were randomised between intervention (INT) and usual care (UC) patients. The interdisciplinary team in the intervention hospital carried out a 16-week CVPRP to reach European risk factor goals. The trial is registered as ISRCTN 71715857. The proportion of patients achieving European cardiovascular recommendations in Spain increased in the intervention hospital, mainly regarding fruit and vegetable consumption (INT 98% vs. UC 53%, p<0.001), oily fish consumption (INT 42% vs. UC 19.5%, p<0.001), self-reported physical activity (INT 31% vs. UC 12.4%, p=0.04), blood pressure (INT 69% vs. UC 47.1%) p< 0.05) and LDL concentrations (INT 86.1% vs. UC 67.6%, p=0.04). The EUROACTION nurse-led model of CVPR programme has shown that therapeutic goals in cardiovascular disease prevention are affordable and sustainable in everyday clinical practice. EUROACTION model adapted in Spain has produced a healthier lifestyle.