The Effect of Nurse-Led Intervention on Limiting Health Costs of Cardiovascular Diseases in Chinese Adults.

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), as the leading cause of mortality worldwide, impose substantial health-related costs. Lifestyle modification through education and counseling is a key strategy in CVD management. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a nurse-led intervention on CVDs-related health costs and lifestyle habits among Chinese adults with CVDs. A quasi-experimental study was conducted among adults with CVDs assigned to either an intervention or control group. The intervention consisted of bi-monthly sessions over a six-month period, conducted in a hospital setting by trained registered nurses. Outcomes included CVD-related health costs and lifestyle behaviors (smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, and diet), measured at baseline, post-intervention, and six-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to compare adjusted outcomes between groups, controlling for baseline values, age, gender, and BMI. The intervention group showed a higher proportion of non-smokers (from 65.2 to 74.1%) and participants with healthy diets (from 14.8 to 27.4%). At post-intervention, they had significantly fewer cigarettes smoked (9.6 ± 0.27, 95% CI: 9.07, 10.13 in intervention group vs. 11.1 ± 0.31, 95% CI: 10.49, 11.71 in control group; p = 0.024, η² = 0.020) and higher physical activity levels (264.4 ± 5.7, 95% CI: 253.23, 275.57 in intervention group vs. 229.2 ± 6.2, 95% CI: 217.05, 241.35 in control group; p = 0.032, η² = 0.018). At follow-up, they also showed significantly lower adjusted CVD-related health costs (17.2 ± 0.41, 95% CI: 16.4, 18.0 in intervention group vs. 20.7 ± 0.46, 95% CI: 19.8, 21.6 in control group; p = 0.029, η² = 0.018), sustained reductions in cigarette use (9.5 ± 0.26, 95% CI: 8.99, 10.01 in intervention group vs. 11.2 ± 0.32, 95% CI: 10.57, 11.83 in control group; p = 0.013, η² = 0.024), and increased physical activity (260.1 ± 5.4, 95% CI: 249.52, 270.68 in intervention group vs. 229.1 ± 6.4, 95% CI: 216.56, 241.64 in control group; p = 0.016, η² = 0.021). The nurse-led intervention may help promote lifestyle improvements and contribute to reductions in CVD-related health costs.