A new care coordination model, EVA Bridge, aims to improve follow-up for patients after a heart attack and reduce the risk of a second one. Palma’s Son Llàtzer hospital is one of eight Spanish hospitals that helped design it.
The problem
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and hospital admission in Spain. After a heart attack, the risk of another event is high, and two of the most important ways to reduce it are keeping LDL (“bad”) cholesterol under control and taking prescribed medication consistently.
Both are frequent problems: many high-risk patients do not reach the cholesterol targets recommended in clinical guidelines, and a large proportion stop taking some of their medication within the first year.
What EVA Bridge does
EVA Bridge links hospital cardiology units with primary care teams so that patients receive continuous support after leaving hospital. It was developed by the pharmaceutical company Daiichi Sankyo with the support of the Spanish Society for Healthcare Quality (SECA) and the Spanish Society of Health Directors (SEDISA).
Four phases
- In hospital and at discharge. Patients receive a clear explanation of their condition and a personalised recovery plan.
- The first two weeks. Close follow-up, with visits and proactive phone calls to answer questions, reinforce treatment and spot warning signs.
- Months two to six. Stabilisation: checking cholesterol and other markers, adjusting treatment and health education to prevent another event.
- From one year. A chronic care phase with regular check-ups shared between GPs, nurses and cardiologists.
The hospitals involved
- Hospital de Bellvitge (Catalonia), coordinator
- Hospital de Cruces (Basque Country)
- Hospital Son Llàtzer (Balearic Islands)
- Hospital La Candelaria (Canary Islands)
- Hospital General de Valencia
- Hospital de Ferrol (Galicia)
- Hospital Costa del Sol (Andalusia)
- Hospital de Fuenlabrada (Madrid)
Why it matters
Better control of cholesterol and better adherence to treatment mean fewer complications, fewer readmissions and lower costs for the health system. The idea behind EVA Bridge is that the period after discharge — when patients move from hospital to primary care — is when they are most likely to fall through the gaps, and that clearer coordination can prevent that.
If you have had a heart attack, never stop taking your medication without talking to your doctor, and attend your follow-up appointments, even if you feel well.
