A systematic review of 11 randomized controlled trials with a total of 4,454 participants evaluated the impact of interventions led by general practice RNs on blood pressure control and cardiovascular disease risk factor reduction in adults with hypertension. The studies were drawn from peer-reviewed, English-language articles published from January 2000 to September 2021. The outcomes of interest were changes in blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as body mass index, smoking, levels of physical activity, cholesterol levels, and alcohol and medication use.

The researchers found a significant reduction in both mean systolic blood pressure (4.7 mmHg) and mean diastolic blood pressure (3.01 mmHg) after nurse-led interventions. However, these reductions were found only in studies that had six months or less of follow-up.

Due to the heterogeneity between studies, meta-analysis was conducted only on blood pressure outcomes. Among the cardiovascular disease risk factor data unable to be pooled in a meta-analysis, improvements were generally seen in blood lipid levels, physical activity, medication adherence, and lifestyle measures. The effects of changes in diet or alcohol consumption were unclear.

The lack of a standardized approach to interventions and data collection illustrates the limitations in interpreting current evidence regarding the impact of nurse-delivered interventions, according to the authors. In addition, interactions between nurses and other health professionals during interventions weren't clearly described; therefore, the effects on outcomes couldn't be explored. The authors call for further research on the effectiveness of nurse-led interventions, their economic impact, and patient satisfaction.