Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain one of the leading causes of disability and premature mortality worldwide, placing a significant burden on health systems, particularly in primary care settings. Nurses, as key members of the primary health care team, play an essential role in reducing the incidence of CVDs through early detection, patient education, lifestyle counseling, risk assessment, and continuous monitoring. Their close interaction with patients allows them to promote behavioral changes, improve adherence to treatment, and provide community-based preventive interventions. This study examines the critical role of nurses in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases within primary health care and highlights effective strategies for strengthening nursing competencies to enhance population health outcomes.
References
1. American Heart Association. (2023). Heart disease and stroke statistics—2023 update: A report from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 147(8), e93–e621.
2. Brady, A. M., Byrne, G., Horan, P., & MacFarlane, A. (2021). The role of primary care nurses in cardiovascular disease prevention: A systematic review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 77(4), 1856–1870.
3. European Society of Cardiology. (2022). ESC guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in clinical practice. European Heart Journal, 43(34), 3227–3337.
4. Fisher, N. D., & Curfman, G. (2018). Hypertension—a public health challenge of global proportions. JAMA, 320(17), 1757–1759.
5. Gillespie, C., Wigington, C., & Hong, Y. (2021). Preventing heart disease at the population level: The role of primary health care. Preventing Chronic Disease, 18, Article E72.
6. Milder, T. Y., Williams, K. M., & Lip, G. Y. H. (2019). Nurse-led interventions for improving cardiovascular health outcomes. Heart, 105(14), 1083–1089.
7. World Health Organization. (2021). Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds)