Title:Nurse-led and Interdisciplinary Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention
Programmes: Spanish Cohort of the EUROACTION Project
Volume: 22
Issue: 13
Author(s): Cristina Buigues*, Isabel Trapero, Jose Antonio Velasco, Antonio Salvador-Sanz, Catriona Jennings, David Wood and Ana Queralt
Affiliation:
- Department of Nursing, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Frailty and Cognitive Impairment Group (FROG),
University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
Keywords:
Nursing, cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation programme, interdisciplinary coronary heart disease, EUROACTION, healthier lifestyle, LDL.
Abstract:
Background: 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).
Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate an interdisciplinary and nurse-led
cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation programme in patients with coronary heart disease.
Methods: 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.
Results: 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).
Conclusion: 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.