Efficacy of a nurse-led lipid-lowering secondary prevention intervention in patients hospitalized for ischemic heart disease: A pilot randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Lack of achievement of secondary prevention objectives in patients with ischaemic heart disease remains an unmet need in this patient population. We aimed at evaluating the six-month efficacy of an intensive lipid-lowering intervention, coordinated by nurses and implemented after hospital discharge, in patients hospitalized for an ischaemic heart disease event.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial, in which a nurse-led intervention including periodic follow-up, serial lipid level controls, and subsequent optimization of lipid-lowering therapy, if appropriate, was compared with standard of care alone in terms of serum lipid-level control at six months after discharge.


RESULTS
The nurse-led intervention was associated with an improved management of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels compared with standard of care alone: LDL cholesterol levels ⩽100 mg/dL were achieved in 97% participants in the intervention arm as compared with 67% in the usual care arm ( p value <0.001), the LDL cholesterol ⩽70 mg/dL target recommended by the 2016 European Society of Cardiology guidelines was achieved in 62% vs. 37% participants ( p value 0.047) and the LDL cholesterol reduction of ⩾50% recommended by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association in 2013 was achieved in 25.6% of participants in the intervention arm as compared with 2.6% in the usual care arm ( p value 0.007). The intervention was also associated with improved blood pressure control among individuals with hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings highlight the opportunity that nurse-led, intensive, post-discharge follow-up plans may represent for achieving LDL cholesterol guideline-recommended management objectives in patients with ischaemic heart disease. These findings should be replicated in larger cohorts.
['Ruiz-Bustillo|Sonia|S|', 'Ivern|Consol|C|', 'Badosa|Neus|N|', 'Farre|Nuria|N|', 'Marco|Esther|E|', 'Bruguera|Jordi|J|', 'Cladellas|Mercè|M|', 'Enjuanes|Cristina|C|', 'Cainzos-Achirica|Miguel|M|', 'Marti-Almor|Julio|J|', 'Comin-Colet|Josep|J|']
D000368:Aged D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents D008078:Cholesterol, LDL D005260:Female D006801:Humans D006949:Hyperlipidemias D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D017202:Myocardial Ischemia D024802:Nurse's Role D010865:Pilot Projects D055502:Secondary Prevention
secondary prevention ischaemic heart disease Nurse-led intervention lipids cholesterol acute coronary syndrome statins