The aim of this study was to examine the lifestyle of cardiovascular patients with different diagnoses, as well as the willingness to change lifestyle after hospitalization. These results can significantly influence everyday nursing practice during rehabilitation and education of cardiovascular patients and increase motivation to change risk behavior. The participants of the study were the patients at the Cardiology Department of the Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation Krapinske Toplice (N=70). In assessing their lifestyle before the hospitalization most participants agreed with the statements „I was often tense, angry or concerned about the events in the society“ and „I was often tense, angry or worried while following the media“. Rural participants compared to those from urban areas estimated their lifestyle before hospitalization statistically as more risky. Most participants decided to change their lifestyle compared to the habits they had before hospitalization. They mostly agree with the statements related to the decision of reducing cigarette consumption and walking more. Older participants brought significantly less decisions of changing lifestyle after hospitalization. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the decision to change lifestyle in terms of gender, work activity and professional occupation. Participants with arrhythmia had a statistically significant higher value of lifestyle change compared to those who had myocardial infarction and hypertension. Participants with bypass had a statistically significant higher value of decision to change lifestyle compared to those who were hospitalized because of arrhythmia. These results are useful for identifying groups of patients where nurses need to make additional efforts to encourage motivation to change risky lifestyle.; Svrha istraživanja bila je ispitati životni stil prije hospitalizacije kod kardiovaskularnih pacijenata različitih dijagnoza, kao i spremnost na promjenu životnog stila nakon hospitalizacije. Ti podaci mogu znatno utjecati na rad medicinskih sestara tijekom rehabilitacije i edukacije kardiovaskularnih pacijenata te poticanja motivacije na promjenu rizičnih ponašanja. Sudionici istraživanja bili su pacijenti kardiološkog odjela Specijalne bolnice za medicinsku rehabilitaciju Krapinske Toplice (N = 70). U procjeni životnog stila prije hospitalizacije najviše se slažu s tvrdnjama često sam bio/la napet/a, ljut/a ili zabrinut/a zbog događaja u društvu te često sam bio/la napet/a, ljut/a ili zabrinut/a dok pratim medije. Sudionici sa sela u usporedbi sa sudionicima iz gradskih naselja procjenjuju svoj životni stil prije hospitalizacije statistički značajno riskantnijim. Većina pacijenata odlučila je promijeniti životne navike u odnosu na one koje su imali prije hospitalizacije. Najviše se slažu s tvrdnjama koje se odnose na odluku o smanjenom konzumiranju cigareta i više pješačenja. Stariji ispitanici donose značajno manje odluka o promjeni životnoga stila nakon hospitalizacije, a nema značajnih razlika u odluci o promjeni životnog stila s obzirom na spol, radnu aktivnost i stručnu spremu sudionika. Ispitanici hospitalizirani zbog aritmije imaju statistički značajno viši stupanj odluke o promjeni u usporedbi s ispitanicima s infarktom miokarda i s hipertenzijom. Ispitanici hospitalizirani zbog ugradnje premosnica imaju statistički značajno viši stupanj odluke o promjeni životnog stila u usporedbi s ispitanicima hospitaliziranima zbog aritmije. Dobiveni podaci korisni su za prepoznavanje skupina pacijenata kod kojih medicinske sestre moraju uložiti dodatne napore u stvaranju motivacije za promjenu rizičnoga životnog stila.