Overview
- Published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, the review synthesized 16 articles covering 12 randomized trials involving 1,444 cardiac patients and their partners.
- Seventy-seven percent of the studies reported better patient health behaviors when partners took part in interventions.
- Clinical results were mixed, with inconsistent effects on mental health outcomes and cardiovascular markers such as lipid profiles.
- Only three studies assessed relationship quality, and none showed improvement, underscoring a major gap in outcomes tracking.
- The authors recommend integrating partners into rehabilitation via a stepped-care screening and referral pathway and call for larger, more diverse trials that measure benefits for both partners.