Randomised controlled trial of specialist nurse intervention in heart failure

Blue, L. et al. (2001) Randomised controlled trial of specialist nurse intervention in heart failure. British Medical Journal, 323, pp. 715-718. (doi: 10.1136/bmj.323.7315.715)

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Abstract

<p>Objectives. To determine whether specialist nurse intervention improves outcome in patients with chronic heart failure.</p> <p>Design. Randomised controlled trial.</p> <p>Setting. Acute medical admissions unit in a teaching hospital.</p> <p>Participants. 165 patients admitted with heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction. The intervention started before discharge and continued thereafter with home visits for up to 1 year.</p> <p>Main outcome measures. Time to first event analysis of death from all causes or readmission to hospital with worsening heart failure.</p> <p>Results. 31 patients (37%) in the intervention group died or were readmitted with heart failure compared with 45 (53%) in the usual care group (hazard ratio=0.61, 95% confidence interval 0.33 to 0.96).Compared with usual care, patients in the intervention group had fewer readmissions for any reason (86 v 114, P=0.018), fewer admissions for heart failure (19 v 45, P<0.001) and spent fewer days in hospital for heart failure (mean 3.43 v 7.46 days, P=0.0051).</p> <p>Conclusions. Specially trained nurses can improve the outcome of patients admitted to hospital with heart failure.</p>

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Norrie, Prof John and Connolly, Dr Eugene and McDonagh, Dr Theresa and Murdoch, Dr David and Ford, Professor Ian and Petrie, Professor Mark and McMurray, Professor John
Authors: Blue, L., Lang, E., McMurray, J.J.V., Davie, A.P., McDonagh, T.A., Murdoch, D.R., Petrie, M.C., Connolly, E., Norrie, J., Round, C.E., Ford, I., and Morrison, C.
Subjects:R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
R Medicine > RT Nursing
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Robertson Centre
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
Journal Name:British Medical Journal
Journal Abbr.:BMJ
Publisher:BMJ Publishing Group
ISSN:0959-535X
ISSN (Online):1756-1833
Copyright Holders:©BMJ Publishing Group
First Published:First published in the BMJ 323:715–718
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

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