Healthcare · Nov 6, 2026
Nursing Interventions Supporting Rehabilitation and Functional Improvement in Older Adults with Coronary Heart Disease: A Scoping Review
By Ortega-Maldonado A, Chica-Perez A, García-Lopez DDM et al.
Background/Objectives: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major cause of morbidity, disability, and loss of autonomy among older adults. Nursing interventions may support rehabilitation and continuity of care, although their characteristics and delivery remain heterogeneous. This scoping review aimed to map nursing interventions implemented and evaluated to support rehabilitation and functional improvement in older adults with CHD, focusing on how these interventions were organised and delivered, the roles assumed by nurses, and the outcomes assessed. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following Joanna Briggs Institute’s guidance and reported according to PRISMA-ScR. PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane were searched between November 2025 and February 2026. Eligibility criteria followed the Population–Concept–Context framework. Quantitative and mixed-method intervention studies involving adults with CHD with a mean age ≥60 years were included. Study selection was performed independently by two reviewers. Results: Twelve studies were included. Most interventions were multicomponent (10/12), commonly integrating health education, exercise, psychosocial support, and self-care strategies. Nine programs combined face-to-face care with remote follow-up, and ten were directly led and delivered by nurses. Intervention duration ranged from four weeks to six months. Outcomes included functional, physiological, psychological, self-care, and quality-of-life domains. Favourable findings were frequently reported for functional capacity, anxiety and depression, self-care, self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life, whereas cardiovascular and physiological findings were less consistent. Conclusions: Nursing interventions for older adults with CHD are predominantly multicomponent and delivered across hospital and home settings. Further research should assess long-term outcomes and improve representation of very old, frail, and digitally vulnerable populations.