However , there were no consistent relationships observed between intervention characteristics and the effects of interventions .
Most trials review ed demonstrated a beneficial impact of nursing interventions for secondary prevention in patients with CAD or heart failure .
OBJECTIVE This systematic review of recent r and omized trials was conducted to determine if cardiovascular nursing interventions improve outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease ( CAD ) and /or heart failure .
Evaluation of a community-based inner-city disease management program for postmyocardial infarction patients: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND Disease management programs ( DMPs ) that use multidisciplinary teams and specialized clinics reduce hospital admissions and improve quality of life and functional status . Evaluations of cardiac DMPs delivered by home health nurses are required . METHODS Between August 1999 and August 2000 we identified consecutive patients admitted to hospital with elevated cardiac enzymes . Patients who agreed were r and omly assigned to participate in a DMP or to receive usual care .  The DMP included 6 home visits by a cardiac-trained nurse , a st and ardized nurses ' checklist , referral criteria for specialty care , communication with the family physician and patient education . We measured readmission days per 1000 follow-up days for angina , congestive heart failure ( CHF ) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) ; all-cause readmission days ; and provincial cl aims for emergency department visits , physician visits , diagnostic or therapeutic services and laboratory services . RESULTS We screened 715 consecutive patients admitted with elevated cardiac markers between August 1999 and August 2000 . Of those screened 71 DMP and 75 usual care patients met the diagnostic criteria for myocardial infa rct ion , were eligible for visits from a home health nurse and consented to participate in the study . Readmission days for angina , CHF and COPD per 1000 follow-up days were significantly higher for usual care patients than for DMP patients ( incidence density ratio [ IDR ] = 1.59 , 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] 1.27 - 2.00 , p < 0.001 ) . All-cause readmission days per 1000 follow-up days were significantly higher for usual care patients than for DMP patients ( IDR = 1.53 , 95 % CI 1.37 - 1.71 , p < 0.001 ) . The difference in emergency department encounters per 1000 follow-up days was significant ( IDR = 2.08 , 95 % CI 1.56 - 2.77 , p < 0.001 ) . During the first 25 days after discharge , there were significantly fewer provincial cl aims su bmi tted for DMP patients than for usual care patients for emergency department visits ( p = 0.007 ) , diagnostic or therapeutic services ( p = 0.012 ) and laboratory services ( p = 0.007 ) . INTERPRETATION The results provide evidence that an appropriately developed and implemented community-based inner-city DMP delivered by home health nurses has a positive impact on patient outcomes
However , there were no consistent relationships observed between intervention characteristics and the effects of interventions .
Most trials review ed demonstrated a beneficial impact of nursing interventions for secondary prevention in patients with CAD or heart failure .
OBJECTIVE This systematic review of recent r and omized trials was conducted to determine if cardiovascular nursing interventions improve outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease ( CAD ) and /or heart failure .