Patient education showed weak evidence of reducing all-cause mortality (RR 0.79; 95% CI 0.55-1.13) compared to no educational intervention in adults with coronary heart disease.
Meta-Analysis (n=68,556)
Does patient education reduce mortality, morbidity, and healthcare costs or improve HRQoL in adults with coronary heart disease?
Patient education in CHD secondary prevention may improve quality of life and reduce healthcare costs, though evidence for reducing mortality and hard cardiac events remains statistically weak.
Relative Risk: 0.79 (95% CI 0.55–1.13)
BACKGROUND: To assess the effects of patient education on mortality, morbidity, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and healthcare costs in people with coronary heart disease (CHD). DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: Data sources were Cochrane Library, Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and ongoing trial registries until August 2010. We also checked study references. The study selection was based on design (randomized controlled trials with follow up of at least 6 months, published from 1990 onwards), population (adults with CHD), intervention (patient education stated to be the primary intervention), and comparators (usual care or no educational intervention). RESULTS: Thirteen studies (68,556 people with CHD) were included. Educational interventions ranged from two visits to a 4-week residential stay with 11 months of reinforcement sessions. Compared to no educational intervention, there was weak evidence that education reduced all-cause mortality (pooled relative risk (RR) 0.79, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.13) and cardiac morbidity outcomes: myocardial infarction (pooled RR 0.63, 95% CI 0.26 to 1.48), revascularization (pooled RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.19 to 1.71), and hospitalization (pooled RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.65 to 1.07) at median 18-months follow up. There was evidence to suggest that education can improve HRQoL and decrease healthcare costs by reductions in downstream healthcare utilization. CONCLUSIONS: Our review had insufficient power to exclude clinically important effects of education on mortality and morbidity. Nevertheless it supports the practice of CHD secondary prevention and rehabilitation programmes including education as an intervention. Further research is needed to determine the most effective and cost-effective format, duration, timing, and methods of education delivery.
Brown et al. (2012) conducted a meta-analysis in coronary heart disease (n=68,556). Patient education vs. Usual care or no educational intervention was evaluated on All-cause mortality (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.55-1.13). Patient education showed weak evidence of reducing all-cause mortality (RR 0.79; 95% CI 0.55-1.13) compared to no educational intervention in adults with coronary heart disease.