Effectiveness of Transitional Care Intervention on Health Outcomes in Patients with Pci: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Transitional care interventions have been proposed to improve outcomes in chronic patients transitioning from hospital to home. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of transitional care interventions on readmission rates, quality of life, anxiety, and depression in post-PCI patients. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library for studies published up to November 26, 2024. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing transitional care interventions initiated within one month of discharge compared to non-transitional care in patients. Statistical analyses were performed using random- or fixed-effects models based on heterogeneity (I2 statistic). Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were conducted to explore sources of heterogeneity. Results: A total of 34 RCTs involving 5,191 post-PCI patients were included. Transitional care interventions reduced the risk of readmission by 31.94% compared to standard care (RR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.53–0.88), Subgroup analysis showed greater effectiveness for patients under 65 years, females, and interventions delivered via a combination of telephone and face-to-face methods. Quality of life significantly improved with transitional care interventions (SMD = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.36–1.02), with mid-term interventions (13–24 weeks) demonstrating the strongest effects. Additionally, transitional care interventions significantly reduced anxiety (SMD = -0.52, 95% CI: -0.88 to -0.15) and depression (SMD = -0.80, 95% CI: -1.43 to -0.17). Conclusions: Transitional care interventions significantly reduce readmission rates, improve healthy outcomes in post-PCI patients. Future studies should explore optimal intervention designs to enhance patient outcomes. This study was registered the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO, CRD42024606447).