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

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.