Outpatient prevention programme by nurses reduces risk of recurrent complications in heart patients

A six-month outpatient prevention programme conducted by nurses has resulted in significant and sustained improvements in the control of cardiovascular risk factors, including high cholesterol or high blood pressure, in patients hospitalised for a heart attack or impending heart attack.

The programme, applied in addition to standard medical care, led to the improved adherence to current guidelines on prevention, including lifestyle and compliance with drug treatment. The nurses were able to increase the proportion of patients with good control of risk factors by 40% (defined as at least seven out of nine risk factors on target) and to reduce the calculated risk of dying in the next 10 years by about 17%.

RESPONSE (Randomised Evaluation of Secondary Prevention by Outpatient Nurse SpEcialists) was an 11-centre randomised study designed to quantify the impact of a nurse-co-ordinated outpatient risk management programme on the risk of future clinical events in patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease. The primary endpoint was patient evaluation according to the SCORE risk score at 12 months, with secondary endpoints assessed according to the Framingham risk score and individual risk factors at 12 months follow-up (including lipid profile, glucose, blood pressure, weight, waist circumference, physical activity, healthy diet, alcohol consumption).

In explaining the background to the trial, principal investigator Professor Ron Peters from the Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, said: "Patients with coronary artery disease are at high risk of recurrent complications and death. Preventive care can effectively reduce this risk, and guidelines have been issued by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology and the European Society of Cardiology which target common risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure, smoking, and high cholesterol.

"Together, these risk factors are associated with the development of coronary artery disease, which remains the world's leading cause of death. At present, a considerable gap exists between these guidelines and their application in clinical practice. It is widely believed, both by patients and doctors, that the preventive aspect of treatment is given insufficient priority and that new approaches are needed to realise the full benefits of prevention. A short coaching programme by a nurse, on top of usual care, is such a new approach already found promising in primary care."

The RESPONSE trial, which evaluated an outpatient nursing programme in 11 hospital centres in the Netherlands, included 754 patients hospitalised for an acute coronary complication (MI or impending MI). They were randomised to either usual care alone or usual care plus a six-month nursing intervention that included four extra visits to the outpatient clinic. Nurses gave advice on healthy lifestyle (food choices, physical exercise, non-smoking, weight control), and monitored major risk factors, such as blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels, and use of preventive medication. The nurses pursued specific targets as defined by the guidelines, and if necessary drug treatment was adjusted in collaboration with treating physicians.

The primary measurement of the study was performed at 12 months, which was six months after the last visit to the nurse. Results showed a significant improvement in risk factor prevalence at the end of the programme, with no loss of effect at 12 months.

Overall, at 12 months after the start of the programme, 35% of patients in the nursing group and 25% of patients in the control group were classified as having good control of risk factors (defined as at least seven out of nine factors on target). This reflects an increase of 40%. Of the risk factors targeted by the intervention, body weight was the least successful. There was no change in weight or waist circumference between baseline and 12 months, with no difference between the two study groups. "This may indicate that weight loss is not a realistic target in the first year after a coronary event," said Professor Peters, "when priority needs to be given to several other risk factors. It remains to be seen if later attempts might be more successful."

When the risk of death over the next ten years was calculated according to the SCORE risk function, the nurses were able to reduce this risk by 17%.

Professor Peters noted that these results were achieved against a background of medical care that was better than expected, with risk factor levels in the study population more favourable than those reported in the literature - and with excellent adherence to medication in both groups. This high level of care in the control group, he added, may have been influenced by participation in the trial.

"The nurse programme was practical and well attended by the patients," he said. "More than 93% of patients attended all visits to the nurse. These findings are very encouraging and support the initiation of prevention programmes by nurses to help patients reduce their risk of future complications."