AIMS/BACKGROUND: The transition from hospital to home is a critical period for patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), and inadequate post-discharge care can adversely affect recovery. Continuing care models have been proposed to address these challenges, but their relative effectiveness compared with standard care still requires further evaluation. Therefore, this study evaluated the impact of continuing care on quality of life and recovery of cardiac function in patients with CHD. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective cohort study included 135 discharged CHD patients. Based on nursing plans, patients were allocated into two groups: a Continuing Care Group (n = 61) and a Routine Care Group (n = 74). The Continuing Care Group received a structured, nurse-led 3-month program, while the Routine Care Group received standard post-discharge instructions. Various parameters, including cardiac function, quality of life, psychological well-being, self-care capacity, medication adherence, overall comfort, and nursing satisfaction, were compared between groups at 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: At 3 months, the Continuing Care Group showed significantly greater improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, 58.31% vs. 54.88%), six-minute walk distance (6MWD, 399.34 m vs. 382.25 m), 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey Physical Component Summary (SF-36 PCS, 67.94 vs. 63.92), and 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey Mental Component Summary (SF-36 MCS, 71.46 vs. 66.87). Patients in the Continuing Care Group also reported lower Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21, 17.24 vs. 18.31) and Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) scores (22.01 vs. 23.14), higher Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI, 85.95 vs. 83.47), Exercise of Self-Care Agency Scale (ESCA, 116.03 vs. 113.72), and Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) scores (74.81 vs. 72.31), along with superior medication adherence (84.16 vs. 82.35), comfort (87.06 vs. 84.91) and nursing satisfaction (86.94 vs. 84.89). At 3-month follow-up, Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) scores improved significantly from baseline in both groups, but no significant between-group difference was observed. CONCLUSION: Continuing care is associated with potential improvements in cardiac function, quality of life, psychological well-being, self-management, medication adherence, and patient-reported experiences compared with routine care in patients with CHD.