Referral of individuals with cardiovascular disease to secondary prevention programmes

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Public Health Initiatives
• Patient Referral Systems

Background:

• Secondary prevention programs are crucial for managing risk factors, preventing disease progression, minimizing complications, and reducing hospital readmissions.
• Despite their proven benefits in improving survival and quality of life, referrals to these vital programs are often suboptimal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the referral patterns of patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), cerebrovascular disease (CVD), or peripheral vascular disease (PVD) to secondary prevention programs.
• To identify factors influencing referral rates in a tertiary hospital setting.

Main Methods:

• A non-experimental, descriptive, retrospective study design was employed.
• Analysis of 176 patient records from a tertiary referral hospital in Melbourne, Australia.
• Inclusion criteria: patients over 18 admitted with a primary diagnosis of ACS, CVD, or PVD during a 12-month period in 2009.

Main Results:

• Only 34% (n=60) of the reviewed patients were referred to secondary prevention programs; 66% (n=116) were not.
• Patients with acute coronary syndrome had higher referral rates compared to those with peripheral vascular disease or cerebrovascular disease.
• Young, married, English-speaking males living in rural areas were most likely to be referred.

Conclusions:

• Referral rates to secondary prevention programs remain suboptimal, indicating a significant gap in patient care.
• There is a critical need to explore the underlying reasons for this under-referral and to develop effective strategies for managing referrals.
• Nurses are uniquely positioned to play a key role in promoting referrals and potentially reducing under-referral rates.