What About Love? A Review of Interventions for Patients With Heart Disease and Their Intimate Partners:...

Social relationships, particularly the quality of intimate partnerships, play a significant role in cardiovascular outcomes and recovery. While most cardiac care focuses on individual patients, couples-based approaches may offer additional benefits to support behavior change and emotional adjustment. However, their effectiveness remains unclear. This review evaluates the effectiveness of couples-based interventions on modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, cardiac outcomes, mental health, and relationship quality (RQ) in adults with diagnosed heart disease and their partners. We reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published until May 29, 2025, involving cardiac patients and their partners. Twelve RCTs (16 articles) met inclusion criteria, involving 1,444 patient-partner dyads. Most interventions were nurse-led and behaviorally focused. Select cardiovascular outcomes (e.g., lipid profiles, healthcare utilization) improved, though findings were inconsistent. Health behavior improvements were reported in 77% of studies, while mental health outcomes showed mixed effects. None of the three studies assessing RQ found significant improvements. With their primary focus on behaviour change, these couples-based interventions for patients with cardiovascular disease and their partners appear effective for improving health behaviors, with mixed evidence for cardiac and mental health outcomes. Future research including emotional and relational components, underserved populations, validated relationship measures, and that assesses outcomes in both patients and partners are needed. In cardiac rehabilitation, a stepped care model may help tailor interventions to couples' specific needs.