STANFORD, Calif., Oct 18, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Nurse care management's telephone-based health instruction, did not lower re-hospitalization rates for low-risk heart failure patients, a U.S. study found.

But the findings, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, are at odds with past studies that showws substantial benefits from specialized care management.

The researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine in California suggest nurse care management does not measurably improve the health of clinically low-risk heart failure patients who, as the ones in the study, are receiving comprehensive health care.

"Nurse care management holds tremendous promise for patients at higher risk or those not receiving comprehensive care, but that doesn't mean it's universally effective," said lead author Dr. Robert F. DeBusk.

Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization in people age 65 or older. It occurs when the heart loses some of its pumping capacity, although it beats normally. It's different from a heart attack, in which blood flow to the heart muscle is restricted.

DeBusk believes the patients in the study were already receiving good overall care.

"We were dealing with a ceiling effect," said DeBusk. "It's hard to improve on excellent care."

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