Cardiovascular risk profile in two cohorts of young apparently healthy South Asian descendants in the Netherlands: still a long way to go!

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) imposes a major healthcare burden on young descendants of South Asian migrants living in the western world. In comparison to the native population, the prevalence is significantly higher and the prevalence of CVD risk factors is increasing rapidly. The cardiovascular risk profile and 10-year risk scores of South Asian descendants were evaluated in two cohorts with a 10-year time difference.

Relation between Coronary Artery Calcium Score and Cardiovascular Events in Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Matched Cohort Study.

Background: Thoracic radiotherapy is one of the corner stones of HL treatment, but it is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. As HL is often diagnosed at a young age, long-term follow-up including screening for coronary artery disease (CAD) is recommended.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the presence of coronary artery calcium score (CACS) in relation to cardiovascular events in HL patients treated with thoracic radiotherapy compared to a non-cancer control group.

AI Algorithm to Predict Acute Coronary Syndrome in Prehospital Cardiac Care: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Overcrowding of hospitals and emergency departments (EDs) is a growing problem. However, not all ED consultations are necessary. For example, 80% of patients in the ED with chest pain do not have an acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Chronic care for heart failure patients: Who to refer back to the general practitioner?-Experiences of the Dutch integrated heart failure care model.

Objective: The number of patients with heart failure (HF) and corresponding burden of the healthcare system will increase significantly. The Dutch integrated model, 'Transmural care of HF Patients' was based on the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines and initiated to manage the increasing prevalence of HF patients in primary and secondary care and stimulate integrated care. It is unknown how many HF patients are eligible for back-referral to general practitioners (GPs), which is important information for the management of chronic HF care.

Myocardial infarction care in low and high socioeconomic environments: claims data analysis.

Background: To date, claims data have not been used to study outcome differences between low and high socioeconomic status (SES) patients surviving ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in the Netherlands.

Aim: To evaluate STEMI and NSTEMI care among patients with low and high SES in the referral area of three Dutch percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) centres, using claims data as a source.

Methods: STEMI and NSTEMI patients treated in 2015-2017 were included.

Percutaneous closure of veno-venous collaterals in adult patients with univentricular physiology after Fontan palliation: Single centre experience and systematic review.

Background: The Fontan operation resulted in improved survival of patients with congenital heart defects not equipped to sustain biventricular circulation. Long-term complications are common, such as veno-venous collaterals (VVC). The aim of this study was to evaluate patient characteristics, percutaneous treatment strategy and (short-term) outcomes in adult Fontan patients with VVC, and review literature to date.

Myocardial function in COVID-19 patients after hospital discharge: a descriptive study comparing the first and second 'wave' patients.

In hospitalized COVID-19 patients, myocardial injury and echocardiographic abnormalities have been described. The present study investigates cardiac function in COVID-19 patients 6 weeks post-discharge and evaluates its relation to New York Heart Association (NYHA) class. Furthermore cardiac function post-discharge between the first and second wave COVID-19 patients was compared.

One-Year Mortality in Patients Undergoing an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator or Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Pulse Generator Replacement: Identifying Patients at Risk.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) significantly contribute to the prevention of sudden cardiac death in selected patients. However, it is essential to identify those who are likely to not have benefit from an ICD and to defer a pulse generator exchange. Easily implementable guidelines for individual risk stratification and decision making are lacking.

Mobile health for cardiovascular risk management after cardiac surgery: results of a sub-analysis of The Box 2.0 study.

Aims: Lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and blood pressure (BP) levels to guideline recommended values reduces the risk of major adverse cardiac events in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). To improve cardiovascular risk management, this study evaluated the effects of mobile health (mHealth) on BP and cholesterol levels in patients after standalone CABG.

Methods And Results: This study is a analysis of an observational cohort study among 228 adult patients who underwent standalone CABG surgery at a tertiary care hospital in The Netherlands.

Tolerability and beneficial effects of sacubitril/valsartan on systemic right ventricular failure.

Objective: Patients with a systemic right ventricle (sRV) in the context of transposition of the great arteries (TGA) after atrial switch or congenitally corrected TGA (ccTGA) are prone to sRV dysfunction. Pharmacological options for sRV failure remain poorly defined. This study aims to investigate the tolerability and effects of sacubitril/valsartan on sRV failure in adult patients with sRV.

Improved prehospital triage for acute cardiac care: results from HART-c, a multicentre prospective study.

Background: Cardiac symptoms are one of the most prevalent reasons for emergency department visits. However, over 80% of patients with such symptoms are sent home after acute cardiovascular disease has been ruled out.

Objective: The Hollands-Midden Acute Regional Triage-cardiology (HART-c) study aimed to investigate whether a novel prehospital triage method, combining prehospital and hospital data with expert consultation, could increase the number of patients who could safely stay at home after emergency medical service (EMS) consultation.

Contemporary Management Strategies of Baffle Leaks in Adults with a Failing Systemic Right Ventricle Late after Atrial Switch: A Case Series and Literature Overview.

Baffle leaks are a frequently encountered and often overlooked complication after the atrial switch procedure for transposition of the great arteries. Baffle leaks are present in up to 50% of non-selected patients, and while they initially may not cause clear symptoms, they can complicate the hemodynamic course and influence the prognosis in this complex patient group. A shunt from the pulmonary venous atrium (PVA) to the systemic venous atrium (SVA) can lead to pulmonary overflow and subpulmonary left ventricular (LV) volume overload, while a shunt from the SVA to the PVA can result in (exercise-associated) cyanosis and paradoxical embolism.

Coronary calcium score in COVID-19 survivors: Association with cardiac injury and cardiac function after 6 weeks.

Aims: Cardiac manifestations are common in COVID-19, often elevated serum troponin levels or myocardial dysfunction on trans-thoracic echocardiography (TTE) is observed. Both parameters are associated with increased in-hospital mortality. Possibly, subclinical coronary atherosclerosis plays a role, of which severity can be assessed by calculating the coronary artery calcium (CAC) score.

A percutaneous treatment strategy of an adult patient with a bicuspid aortic valve, coarctation of the aorta, and an exceptionally large aneurysm of a collateral artery: Case report and literature overview.

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a congenital heart defect that is associated with a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), ascending aorta dilatation, intracerebral aneurysms, and premature atherosclerotic disease. The first presentation during late adulthood is rare and is frequently driven by late sequelae. Hypertrophic collateral arteries can develop aneurysms which are at risk for spontaneous rupture, however, treatment recommendations for these aneurysms are scarce.

An omission in guidelines. Cardiovascular disease prevention should also focus on dietary policies for healthcare facilities.

Suboptimal diet is a major modifiable risk factor in cardiovascular disease. Governments, individuals, educational institutes, healthcare facilities and the industry all share the responsibility to improve dietary habits. Healthcare facilities in particular present a unique opportunity to convey the importance of healthy nutrition to patients, visitors and staff.

The development of a decision aid for shared decision making in the Dutch implantable cardioverter defibrillator patient population: A novel approach to patient education.

Background: Counseling of Implantable Cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) patients with regard to individual risks and benefits is challenging. An evidence-based decision aid tailored to the needs of Dutch ICD patients is not yet available. The objective of this pilot project was to structurally evaluate the current clinical practice in The Netherlands and the ICD patient experience, in order to develop an online decision aid to facilitate shared decision making in ICD procedures.

Mobile health vs. standard care after cardiac surgery: results of The Box 2.0 study.

Aims: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication of cardiac surgery, yet difficult to detect in ambulatory patients. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a mobile health (mHealth) intervention on POAF detection after cardiac surgery.

Methods And Results: We performed an observational cohort study among 730 adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery at a tertiary care hospital in The Netherlands.

Managing Hospital Capacity: Achievements and Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic challenged health care systems in an unprecedented way. Due to the enormous amount of hospital ward and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, regular care came to a standstill, thereby overcrowding ICUs and endangering (regular and COVID-19-related) critical care. Acute care coordination centers were set up to safely manage the influx of COVID-19 patients.