Journal Article

Nurse-Led Secondary Prevention After Acute Coronary Syndrome: Bridging the Gender Gap in Cardiovascular Outcomes—A Sub-Analysis of the BEAT-HF Study

Simo Cubel, Gemma, Gomez Hospital, Joan Antoni, Meroño Dueñas, Oona, Cera, Maria Soler, Ricarte Marin, Adrian, Comin Colet, Josep, Sanchez, Mar Iraculis, Fernández, Natalia López, Gomez Cuba, Marta, Capdevila Aguilera, Cristina, Garay Melero, Alberto, Alcober Morte, Laia, Llagostera Martin, Marc, Cirera Salleras, Guillem, Ruiz Muñoz, Marta

2026

Overview

Background: Despite advances in the management of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), women continue to experience higher long-term mortality and lower access to secondary prevention compared with men. Objective: This study aimed to assess whether a universally inclusive, nurse-led secondary prevention program implemented at a University Hospital improved post-ACS outcomes and reduced gender disparities in risk factor control and mortality. Methods: This retrospective, observational study compared two cohorts of ACS survivors discharged from Bellvitge University Hospital: a pre-intervention cohort (2018) and a post-intervention cohort (2022). The nurse-led program included universal enrollment of all ACS patients, early follow-up, pharmacological optimization, therapeutic exercise, lifestyle counseling, and coordination with primary care. Outcomes included lipid and glycemic control and 18-month mortality, stratified by sex. Results: A total of 409 patients were included (2018: n = 200; 2022: n = 209), of whom 130 were women. Women were older and had more comorbidities. Post-program implementation, the proportion of patients without post-discharge blood testing dropped from >50% to <17% in both sexes. Lipid and glycemic control improved significantly at both early (1–4 months) and late (9–18 months) follow-up. Early differences favoring men disappeared by 18 months. Mortality decreased by 27.5% in men and 47.6% in women, representing a significantly greater relative reduction among women (p = 0.0001). Conclusions: A structured, nurse-led secondary prevention program with systematic inclusion improved clinical outcomes and significantly narrowed the gender gap in cardiovascular mortality. These findings demonstrate that equitable, protocolized care led by advanced practice nurses can reduce systemic inequities in cardiovascular health.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
• Subject: acute coronary syndrome / Acute coronary syndromes / Advanced practice nurses / Big Data / Blood / cardiac rehabilitation / Cardiovascular health / Care and treatment / Cholesterol / Clinical medicine / Comorbidity / Comparative analysis / Consultants / Coronary heart disease / Diabetes / Ethics / Exercise therapy / Female-male relations / gender disparities / Health aspects / Heart attacks / Heart failure / High density lipoprotein / Hospitals / Hypertension / Laboratories / Lipids / Low density lipoprotein / Medical examination / Medical prognosis / Missing persons / Mortality / nurse-led care / Nurses / Optimization / Patients / Prevention programs / Primary care / Risk factors / secondary prevention / Sociodemographics / Spain / therapeutic exercise / Womens health