Coronary Artery Calcium Scores After Prophylactic Premenopausal Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy.

Background: Premenopausal risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) in women at high familial risk of ovarian cancer leads to immediate menopause. Although early natural menopause is associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk, evidence on long-term cardiovascular disease risk after early surgical menopause is scarce.

Objectives: We sought to determine the long-term influence of the timing of RRSO on the development of coronary artery calcium (CAC), an established marker for cardiovascular disease risk.

Cardiovascular disease risk after breast cancer treatment in patients with a BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant.

Purpose: Breast cancer (BC) treatment can induce adverse events, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). Defective DNA repair, as in carriers of BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants (BRCA1/2pv), may contribute to CVD risk. We aimed to study if female BRCA1/2pv carriers are more sensitive to develop CVD after BC treatment than BC patients without a known BRCA1/2pv.

Differences in presentation, diagnosis and management of heart failure in women. A scientific statement of the Heart Failure Association of the ESC.

Despite the progress in the care of individuals with heart failure (HF), important sex disparities in knowledge and management remain, covering all the aspects of the syndrome, from aetiology and pathophysiology to treatment. Important distinctions in phenotypic presentation are widely known, but the mechanisms behind these differences are only partially defined. The impact of sex-specific conditions in the predisposition to HF has gained progressive interest in the HF community.

Female-specific risk variables: From innocent bystanders to key players in cardiovascular risk prediction.

There is an increasing interest among professionals in cardiovascular medicine in women-specific risk variables related to gynecologic conditions over the life span. Although adverse lifestyle factors, hypertension, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance are recognized as the most important risk factors in older women, there is still uncertainty over how to account for other risk variables. For instance, migraine from puberty onwards, chronic inflammatory conditions and mental stress affect cardiovascular risk in women.

Competing risk analysis of cardiovascular disease risk in breast cancer patients receiving a radiation boost.

Background: Thoracic radiotherapy may damage the myocardium and arteries, increasing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Women with a high local breast cancer (BC) recurrence risk may receive an additional radiation boost to the tumor bed.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the CVD risk and specifically ischemic heart disease (IHD) in BC patients treated with a radiation boost, and investigated whether this was modified by age.

Gender is Independently Associated With Red Blood Cell and Platelet Transfusion in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Data From the Netherlands Heart Registration.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of transfusions, including red blood cells (RBC), platelets, and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) during and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in the Netherlands. Furthermore, the authors aimed to identify the impact of sex on blood product transfusion.

Design: A retrospective multicenter cohort study.

Sex-differences in outcome after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting is age-dependent; data from the Netherlands Heart Registration.

Background: Women are known to have worse outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) than men. Studies have shown that off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) might benefit higher-risk patients, and therefore might also benefit women. We aimed to determine differences in early and late outcomes between sexes after OPCAB.

Extensive Cardiac Function Analyses Using Contemporary Echocardiography in Childhood Cancer Survivors: A DCCSS LATER Study.

Background: Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are at risk for cardiotoxicity.

Objectives: We sought to assess how cardiac dysfunction measurements in CCS overlap and are differentially influenced by risk factors.

Methods: This cross-sectional Dutch Childhood Cancer Survivor Study evaluated echocardiograms of 1,397 ≥5-year CCS and 277 siblings.

Continuous Versus Bolus Thermodilution-Derived Coronary Flow Reserve and Microvascular Resistance Reserve and Their Association With Angina and Quality of Life in Patients With Angina and Nonobstructive Coronaries: A Head-to-Head Comparison.

Background Coronary flow reserve (CFR) and microvascular resistance reserve (MRR) are physiological parameters to assess coronary microvascular dysfunction. CFR and MRR can be assessed using bolus or continuous thermodilution, and the correlation between these methods has not been clarified. Furthermore, their association with angina and quality of life is unknown.

Urinary incontinence more than 15 years after premenopausal risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy: a multicentre cross-sectional study.

Objective: To study the impact of premenopausal risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO), compared with postmenopausal RRSO, on urinary incontinence (UI) ≥10 years later.

Design: Cross-sectional study, nested in a nationwide cohort.

Setting: Multicentre in the Netherlands.

Long-term effects of premenopausal risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy on cognition in women with high familial risk of ovarian cancer: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: To examine the effect of a premenopausal risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) in women at increased risk of ovarian cancer on objective and subjective cognition at least 10 years after RRSO.

Design: A cross-sectional study with prospective follow-up, nested in a nationwide cohort.

Setting: Multicentre in the Netherlands.

Home blood pressure monitoring detects unrevealed hypertension in women with a history of preeclampsia: Results of the BP-PRESELF study.

Objectives: The risk of cardiovascular disease more than doubles after hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. As early onset chronic hypertension contributes to cardiovascular risk, implementation of screening strategies, using home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM), may help to improve long-term cardiovascular health.We evaluated whether HBPM among women with a history of preeclampsia/HELLP syndrome is feasible for early detection and management of hypertension.

Sexual functioning more than 15 years after premenopausal risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy.

Background: Women with a BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant are advised to undergo premenopausal risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy after completion of childbearing, to reduce their risk of ovarian cancer. Several studies reported less sexual pleasure 1 to 3 years after a premenopausal oophorectomy. However, the long-term effects of premenopausal oophorectomy on sexual functioning are unknown.

Contemporary and future invasive coronary vasomotor function testing and treatment in patients with ischaemia with no obstructive coronary arteries.

In the current review, we emphasize the importance of diagnostics and therapy in patients with ischaemia with no obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA). The importance of the diagnostic coronary function test (CFT) procedure is described, including future components including angiography-derived physiology and invasive continuous thermodilution. Furthermore, the main components of treatment are discussed.

Efficacy of Diltiazem to Improve Coronary Vasomotor Dysfunction in ANOCA: The EDIT-CMD Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Diltiazem is recommended and frequently prescribed in patients with angina and nonobstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCA), suspected of coronary vasomotor dysfunction (CVDys). However, studies substantiating its effect is this patient group are lacking.

Objectives: The randomized, placebo-controlled EDIT-CMD (Efficacy of Diltiazem to Improve Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction: A Randomized Clinical Trial) evaluated the effect of diltiazem on CVDys, as assessed by repeated coronary function testing (CFT), angina, and quality of life.

Gender Differences in International Cardiology Guideline Authorship: A Comparison of the US, Canadian, and European Cardiology Guidelines From 2006 to 2020.

Background Women continue to be underrepresented in cardiology and even more so in leadership positions. We evaluated the trends and gender differences in the guideline writing groups of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA), Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS), and European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines from 2006 to 2020. Methods and Results We extracted all guidelines authors from 2006 to 2020, assessed their gender from publicly available profiles, and compared differences based on subspecialties and specific societies.

Gender and Social Inequalities in Awareness of Coronary Artery Disease in European Countries.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the single leading cause of death in Europe and the most common form of cardiovascular disease. Little is known about awareness in the European population. A cross-sectional telephone survey of 2609 individuals from six European countries was conducted to gather information on perceptions of CAD, risk factors, preventive measures, knowledge of heart attack symptoms and ability to seek emergency medical care.

Future steps in cardio-oncology-a national multidisciplinary survey among healthcare professionals in the Netherlands.

Background: The awareness of cancer therapy-related adverse cardiac effects is fueled by recent literature on cardiotoxicity incidence and detection strategies. Although this influences the sense of urgency, in current practice, cardiotoxicity monitoring and treatment is not structurally performed. With this study, we aimed to evaluate current perspectives on cardio-oncology and to assess needs, ultimately to determine an agenda for improvements in current practice.

Relation Between Coronary Tortuosity and Vasomotor Dysfunction in Patients Without Obstructed Coronaries?

A large proportion of patients with angina and no obstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCA) has underlying coronary vasomotor dysfunction (CVDys), which can be diagnosed by a coronary function test (CFT). Coronary tortuosity is a common angiographic finding during the CFT. Yet, no data exist on the association between vasomotor dysfunction and coronary tortuosity.