Short-term impact of cardiovascular screening by traditional risk assessment or coronary artery calcium score on health-related quality of life: the ROBINSCA trial.

Aims: Evidence on the impact of screening for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is important for policy decisions about screening implementation and to uncover teachable moments to motivate healthy lifestyle choices. It is unknown whether screening by cardiac computed tomography (CT) scan has a stronger impact on HRQoL than screening by traditional risk prediction models. The study aims to investigate differences in HRQoL across the screening process between participants who were randomized to CVD risk estimation by coronary artery calcium score or Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation.

The Effect of and on Continuous Glucose Levels in Overweight Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Feasibility Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background: Brown seaweed is promising for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Its bioactive constituents can positively affect plasma glucose homeostasis in healthy humans. We investigated the effect of the brown seaweeds and in their natural form on glucose regulation in patients with T2DM.

Lipid metabolism during pregnancy: consequences for mother and child.

Purpose Of Review: Accommodating fetal growth and development, women undergo multiple physiological changes during pregnancy. In recent years, several studies contributed to the accumulating evidence about the impact of gestational hyperlipidemia on cardiovascular risk for mother and child. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current research on lipid profile alterations during pregnancy and its associated (cardiovascular) outcomes for mother and child from a clinical perspective.

Sex Differences in Diagnosis, Treatment, and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia.

Importance: Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is a rare genetic condition characterized by extremely increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) is more common than HoFH, and women with HeFH are diagnosed later and undertreated compared to men; it is unknown whether these sex differences also apply to HoFH.

Objective: To investigate sex differences in age at diagnosis, risk factors, lipid-lowering treatment, and ASCVD morbidity and mortality in patients with HoFH.

[Bempedoic acid, a new cholesterol-lowering agent].

Statins have been de cornerstone for the treatment of hyperlipidaemia for decades now. More recently the introduction of the PCSK9 inhibitors, inclisiran and even more recently bempedoic acid have given us new options for the treatment of hyperlipidaemia. Bempedoic acid is a prodrug which is metabolized in the liver and not in the peripheral tissues like muscles, this means that myalgia does not occur as a side effect.

Sex Differences in Familial Hypercholesterolemia.

Purpose Of Review: This review aims to summarize the existing research on sex differences in familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) across the lifespan.

Recent Findings: From childhood onward, total- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in girls are higher than those in boys with FH. By the age of 30 years, women with FH have a higher LDL-C burden than men.

First clinical experiences with inclisiran in a real-world setting.

Background And Objective: Inclisiran is the first-in-class small interfering RNA (siRNA) proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor. In clinical trials inclisiran showed effective and sustained low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction of ± 50 %. As data in clinical setting are scarce, we aim to investigate the efficacy and safety in clinical practice.

Women, lipids, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: a call to action from the European Atherosclerosis Society.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women and men globally, with most due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Despite progress during the last 30 years, ASCVD mortality is now increasing, with the fastest relative increase in middle-aged women. Missed or delayed diagnosis and undertreatment do not fully explain this burden of disease.

Composition and distribution of lipoproteins after evolocumab in familial dysbetalipoproteinemia: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) reduce fasting and post fat load cholesterol in non-HDL and intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) in familial dysbetalipoproteinemia (FD). However, the effect of PCSK9 mAbs on the distribution and composition of atherogenic lipoproteins in patients with FD is unknown.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the PCSK9 mAb evolocumab added to standard lipid-lowering therapy in patients with FD on fasting and post fat load lipoprotein distribution and composition.

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.

2023 Update on European Atherosclerosis Society Consensus Statement on Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolaemia: new treatments and clinical guidance.

This 2023 statement updates clinical guidance for homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HoFH), explains the genetic complexity, and provides pragmatic recommendations to address inequities in HoFH care worldwide. Key strengths include updated criteria for the clinical diagnosis of HoFH and the recommendation to prioritize phenotypic features over genotype. Thus, a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) >10 mmol/L (>400 mg/dL) is suggestive of HoFH and warrants further evaluation.

Cardiovascular risk profiles in patients with inflammatory bowel disease differ from matched controls from the general population.

Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). We compared cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and 10-year risk in IBD patients to the general population.

Methods And Results: In this cross-sectional study, consecutive IBD patients ≥45 years were included.

Sex differences in efficacy and safety of PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies: A real-world registry.

Background And Aims: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 monoclonal antibodies (PCSK9 mAbs) reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c) with a favourable safety profile. Available data from PCSK9 antibody trials suggest LDL-c reduction is lower in women compared to men. Data in real-world setting is scarce.

Effects of menstruation on the onset of acute coronary syndrome in premenopausal women: A case series.

Background: The incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among women is lower before the menopause, which may be due to the atheroprotective effects of female sex hormones, including estrogens. This study explored whether women experienced acute coronary syndrome (ACS) more often during menstruation, when the levels of female sex hormones are low.

Methods: All premenopausal women referred to the local cardiac rehabilitation program after ACS between August 2010 and September 2018 were contacted by telephone to gather information about their menstrual cycle, contraceptive use and whether ACS occurred during menstruation.

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.

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.

Needs and preferences of women with prior severe preeclampsia regarding app-based cardiovascular health promotion.

Background: Women with prior severe preeclampsia are at an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases later in life compared to women who had a normotensive pregnancy. The objective of this study was to assess their needs and preferences regarding app-based cardiovascular health promotion.

Methods: Patients (n = 35) of the Follow-Up PreEClampsia Outpatient Clinic (FUPEC), Erasmus MC, the Netherlands, participated in an anonymous online survey.