A Nurse-led Approach to Improving Cardiac Lifestyle Modification in an Atrial Fibrillation Population

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Digital Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent arrhythmia impacting quality of life and leading to adverse cardiac events.
• Effective management strategies are crucial for improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare burden.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of the "Atrial Fibrillation and Cardiac Health: Targeting Improving Outcomes via a Nurse-Led Intervention (ACTION)" mobile health (mHealth) program.
• To evaluate the intervention's impact on cardiac health measures, AF symptom recognition, and self-management.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving 53 individuals with AF, utilizing a nurse-led mHealth platform for lifestyle intervention.
• Participants engaged with American Heart Association resources (Life's Simple 7®) and a symptom tracker, supported by motivational interviewing over six months.
• Intervention focused on personalized cardiac health goals and biweekly nurse support via the mHealth portal.

Main Results:

• The ACTION intervention was feasible, with 98% of participants appreciating the nurse support.
• Seventy percent of participants showed improvements in weight and blood pressure, alongside enhanced Life's Simple 7® scores.
• Average reductions included a 3-pound weight decrease and a 5-mmHg drop in systolic blood pressure.

Conclusions:

• The ACTION mHealth intervention is a feasible approach for lifestyle modification in patients with AF.
• This pilot study supports further investigation in larger cohorts to inform AF guidelines and reduce disease burden.