An appeal to our government for nationwide policies in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

The high prevalence and burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is largely attributable to unhealthy lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and unhealthy food habits. Prevention of CVD, through the promotion of healthy lifestyles, appears to be a Sisyphean task for healthcare professionals, as the root causes of an unhealthy lifestyle lie largely outside their scope. Since most lifestyle choices are habitual and a response to environmental cues, rather than rational and deliberate choices, nationwide policies targeting the context in which lifestyle behaviours occur may be highly effective in the prevention of CVD. In this point-of-view article, we emphasise the need for government policies beyond those mentioned in the National Prevention Agreement in the Netherlands to effectively reduce the CVD risk, and we address the commonly raised concerns regarding 'paternalism'.

Lifestyle management to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: evidence and challenges.

Lifestyle management is the cornerstone of both primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and the importance of lifestyle management is emphasised by all major guidelines. Despite this, actual implementation of lifestyle management is poor. Lifestyle modification includes smoking cessation, weight loss, dietary change, increasing physical inactivity, and stress management. This review summarises evidence-based opportunities and challenges for healthcare professionals to promote healthy lifestyles at an individual level for the prevention of ASCVD.

The challenge of choosing in cardiovascular risk management.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. For many years guidelines have listed optimal preventive therapy. More recently, novel therapeutic options have broadened the options for state-of-the-art CV risk management (CVRM). In the majority of patients with CVD, risk lowering can be achieved by utilising standard preventive medication combined with lifestyle modifications. In a minority of patients, add-on therapies should be considered to further reduce the large residual CV risk. However, the choice of which drug combination to prescribe and in which patients has become increasingly complicated, and is dependent on both the absolute CV risk and the reason for the high risk. In this review, we discuss therapeutic decisions in CVRM, focusing on (1) the absolute CV risk of the patient and (2) the pros and cons of novel treatment options.

The scientific basis for secondary prevention of coronary artery disease: recent contributions from the Netherlands.

While the beneficial effects of secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease are undisputed, implementation remains challenging. A gap between guideline-mandated risk factor targets and clinical reality was documented as early as the 1990s. To address this issue, research groups in the Netherlands have performed several major projects. These projects address innovative, multidisciplinary strategies to improve medication adherence and to stimulate healthy lifestyles, both in the setting of cardiac rehabilitation and at dedicated outpatient clinics. The findings of these projects have led to changes in prevention and rehabilitation guidelines.

Ethnic differences in metabolic cardiovascular risk among normal weight individuals: Implications for cardiovascular risk screening. The HELIUS study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors may occur among a substantial proportion of normal weight individuals, particularly among some ethnic minorities. It is unknown how many of these individuals would be missed by commonly applied eligibility criteria for cardiovascular risk screening. Thus, we aim to determine cardiovascular risk and eligibility for cardiovascular risk screening among normal weight individuals of different ethnic backgrounds. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using the HELIUS study (Amsterdam, The Netherlands), we determined cardiovascular risk among 6910 normal weight individuals of Dutch, South-Asian Surinamese, African Surinamese, Ghanaian, Moroccan and Turkish background. High cardiovascular risk was approximated by high metabolic risk based on blood pressure, HDL, triglycerides and fasting glucose. Eligibility criteria for screening were derived from Dutch CVD prevention guidelines and include age ≥ 50 y, family history of CVD, or current smoking. Ethnic group comparisons were made using logistic regression. Age-adjusted proportions of high metabolic risk ranged from 12.6% to 38.4% (men) and from 2.7% to 11.5% (women). This prevalence was higher among most ethnic minorities than the Dutch, especially among women. For most ethnic groups, 79.9%-86.7% of individuals with high metabolic risk were eligible for cardiovascular risk screening. Exceptions were Ghanaian women (58.8%), Moroccan men (70.9%) and Moroccan women (45.0%), although age-adjusted proportions did not differ between groups. CONCLUSION: Even among normal weight individuals, high cardiovascular metabolic risk is more common among ethnic minorities than among the majority population. Regardless of ethnicity, most normal weight individuals with increased risk are eligible for cardiovascular risk screening.

Readmission and mortality in patients ≥70 years with acute myocardial infarction or heart failure in the Netherlands: a retrospective cohort study of incidences and changes in risk factors over time.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the risk of first unplanned all-cause readmission and mortality of patients ≥70 years with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or heart failure (HF) and to explore which effects of baseline risk factors vary over time. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed on hospital and mortality data (2008) from Statistics Netherlands including 5,175 (AMI) and 9,837 (HF) patients. We calculated cumulative weekly incidences for first unplanned all-cause readmission and mortality during 6 months post-discharge and explored patient characteristics associated with these events. RESULTS: At 6 months, 20.4% and 9.9% (AMI) and 24.6% and 22.4% (HF) of patients had been readmitted or had died, respectively. The highest incidences were found in week 1. An increased risk for 14-day mortality after AMI was observed in patients who lived alone (hazard ratio (HR) 1.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-2.44) and within 30 and 42 days in patients with a Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥3. In HF patients, increased risks for readmissions within 7, 30 and 42 days were found for a Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥3 and within 42 days for patients with an admission in the previous 6 months (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.12-1.80). Non-native Dutch HF patients had an increased risk of 14-day mortality (HR 1.74, 95% CI 1.09-2.78). CONCLUSION: The risk of unplanned readmission and mortality in older AMI and HF patients was highest in the 1st week post-discharge, and the effect of some risk factors changed over time. Transitional care interventions need to be provided as soon as possible to prevent early readmission and mortality.

The cardiac care bridge program: design of a randomized trial of nurse-coordinated transitional care in older hospitalized cardiac patients at high risk of readmission and mortality.

BACKGROUND: After hospitalization for cardiac disease, older patients are at high risk of readmission and death. Although geriatric conditions increase this risk, treatment of older cardiac patients is limited to the management of cardiac diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate if unplanned hospital readmission and mortality can be reduced by the Cardiac Care Bridge transitional care program (CCB program) that integrates case management, disease management and home-based cardiac rehabilitation. METHODS: In a randomized trial on patient level, 500 eligible patients ≥ 70 years and at high risk of readmission and mortality will be enrolled in six hospitals in the Netherlands. Included patients will receive a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) at admission. Randomization with stratified blocks will be used with pre-stratification by study site and cognitive status based on the Mini-Mental State Examination (15-23 vs ≥ 24). Patients enrolled in the intervention group will receive a CGA-based integrated care plan, a face-to-face handover with the community care registered nurse (CCRN) before discharge and four home visits post-discharge. The CCRNs collaborate with physical therapists, who will perform home-based cardiac rehabilitation and with a pharmacist who advices the CCRNs in medication management The control group will receive care as usual. The primary outcome is the incidence of first all-cause unplanned readmission or mortality within 6 months post-randomization. Secondary outcomes at three, six and 12 months after randomization are physical functioning, functional capacity, depression, anxiety, medication adherence, health-related quality of life, healthcare utilization and care giver burden. DISCUSSION: This study will provide new knowledge on the effectiveness of the integration of geriatric and cardiac care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NTR6316 . Date of registration: April 6, 2017.

[Is healthcare consumption in the country of origin among Moroccan and Turkish migrants of older age (55+) associated with less use of care in the Netherlands?] / Gaat zorggebruik in het land van herkomst onder oudere Turkse en Marokkaanse migranten gepaard met minder zorggebruik in Nederland? Een combinatie van HELIUS-data met Achmea registratiedata.

A substantial part of all Dutch people of Turkish and Moroccan origin use healthcare in the country of origin when travelling to their country of origin for a shorter or longer period of time (21% and 10%, respectively). If using care in the country of origin leads to avoidance of care in the Netherlands, this could threaten the continuity of care. We linked data of the HELIUS study to health insurance data. We examined the relationship between healthcare utilisation in the country of origin and the Netherlands, in the period of 2010-2015, adjusting for health status as an indicator of need. Contrary to our expectations, Dutch people of Turkish or Moroccan origin using healthcare consumption in the country of origin utilise more care in the Netherlands than individuals that do not utilize healthcare in the country of origin. Thus, our results do not provide any indication for avoidance of healthcare in the Netherlands among this group of older migrants in the Netherlands.

Ethnic disparities in estimated cardiovascular disease risk in Amsterdam, the Netherlands : The HELIUS study.

BACKGROUND: Ethnic differences have been reported in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. It is still unclear which ethnic groups are most at risk for CVD when all traditional CVD risk factors are considered together as overall risk. OBJECTIVES: To examine ethnic differences in overall estimated CVD risk and the risk factors that contribute to these differences. DESIGN: Using data of the multi-ethnic HELIUS study (HEalthy LIfe in an Urban Setting) from Amsterdam, we examined whether estimated CVD risk and risk factors among those eligible for CVD risk estimation differed between participants of Dutch, South Asian Surinamese, African Surinamese, Ghanaian, Turkish and Moroccan origin. Using the Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) algorithm, we estimated risk of fatal CVD and risk of fatal plus non-fatal CVD. These risks were compared between ethnic groups via age-adjusted linear regression analyses. RESULTS: The SCORE algorithm was applicable to 9,128 participants. Relative to the fatal CVD risk of participants of Dutch origin, South Asian Surinamese participants showed a higher fatal CVD risk, Ghanaian males a lower fatal CVD risk, and participants of other ethnic origins a similar fatal CVD risk. For fatal plus non-fatal CVD risk, African Surinamese and Turkish men also showed a higher risk. When diabetes was incorporated in the CVD risk algorithm, all but Ghanaian men showed a higher CVD risk relative to the participants of Dutch origin (betas ranging from 0.98-3.10%). The CVD risk factors that contribute the most to these ethnic differences varied between ethnic groups. CONCLUSION: Ethnic minority groups are at a greater estimated risk of fatal plus non-fatal CVD relative to the group of native Dutch. Further research is necessary to determine whether this will translate to ethnic differences in CVD incidence and, if so, whether ethnic-specific CVD prevention strategies are warranted.

Risk factor control in secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: results from the multi-ethnic HELIUS study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of contemporary secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and the differences between six ethnic groups in a large, observational cohort. DESIGN: We included participants with a self-reported history of CVD from the HEalthy LIfe in an Urban Setting (HELIUS) study, which investigates inequalities in health between six ethnic groups living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. We quantified the proportions of patients who were at the preventive treatment goal according to the guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology for six risk factors: hypertension, dyslipidaemia, smoking, overweight, physical inactivity and diabetes mellitus, and the use preventive medication. RESULTS: Of 22,165 participants, 1163 (5%) reported a history of CVD. Mean age was 54 years. Overall, 69% had a systolic blood pressure of <140 mm Hg, and 42% had a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol of <2.5 mmol/l. Non-smoking was found in 67%. Body mass index (BMI) <25 kg/m2 was found in 24%, and 54% reported adequate physical activity. The mean number of risk factors per patient was three (±1.1) out of six, and only 2% had all risk factors on target. Across the ethnic groups, non-smoking was more prevalent in the Ghanaian and Moroccan groups than in the Dutch (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively); BMI <25 kg/m2 and adequate physical activity were less prevalent among all ethnic minority groups compared with the Dutch group. CONCLUSION: We found large treatment gaps in secondary prevention of CVD. Ethnic differences in risk factors were found; however, strategies to improve overall risk factor management may be mandated before designing ethnic-specific strategies.

The Dutch SCORE-based risk charts seriously underestimate the risk of cardiovascular disease.

INTRODUCTION: Dutch cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention guidelines recommend the use of modified SCORE risk charts to estimate 10-year risk of fatal and nonfatal CVD (myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disease and congestive heart failure). This combined risk is derived from the SCORE mortality risk using multipliers. These multipliers have been shown to underestimate overall CVD risk. We aimed to compare the current Dutch risk charts with charts that estimate a broader range of clinically relevant CVD using updated multipliers. METHODS: We constructed new risk charts for 10-year CVD using updated, recently published multipliers from the EPIC-Norfolk study, based on ratios of fatal CVD to clinically relevant CVD (fatal plus nonfatal CVD requiring hospitalisation for ischaemic heart disease, cardiac failure, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral artery disease, and aortic aneurysm). Our primary outcome was the proportion of the three risk categories, i. e. 'high risk' (>20% 10-year risk), 'intermediate risk' (10-19%) and 'low risk' (<10%) in the new risk charts as compared with the current risk charts. RESULTS: Applying the updated fatal CVD/clinical CVD multipliers led to a marked increase in the high-risk categories (109 (27%) vs. 244 (61%), (p < 0.001)), an absolute increase of 229%. Similarly, the number of low-risk categories decreased (190 (48%) vs. 81 (20%) (p < 0.001)). CONCLUSION: The current Dutch risk charts seriously underestimate the risk of clinical CVD, even in the first 10 years. Even when analyses are restricted to CVD events that required hospitalisation, true 10-year risks are more than double the currently estimated risks. Future guidelines may be revised to reflect these findings.

Cardiovascular disease risk and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease among patients with low health literacy.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between health literacy and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and to assess the differential effects by health literacy level of a nurse-coordinated secondary prevention program (NCPP) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Data were collected in two medical centres participating in the RESPONSE trial (Randomised Evaluation of Secondary Prevention by Outpatient Nurse SpEcialists). CVD risk profiles were assessed at baseline and 12-month follow-up using the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE). Health literacy was assessed by the short Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM-D) and the Newest Vital Sign (NVS-D); self-reported health literacy was evaluated by the Set of Brief Screening Questions (SBSQ-D). RESULTS: Among 201 CAD patients, 18% exhibited reading difficulties, 52% had difficulty understanding and applying written information, and 5% scored low on self-reported health literacy. Patients with low NVS-D scores had a higher CVD risk [mean SCORE 5.2 (SD 4.8) versus 3.3 (SD 4.1), p < 0.01]. Nurse-coordinated care seemed to reduce CVD risk irrespective of health literacy levels without significant differences. CONCLUSION: Inadequate health literacy is prevalent in CAD patients in the Netherlands, and is associated with less favourable CVD risk profiles. Where many other forms of CVD prevention fail, nurse-coordinated care seems to be effective among patients with inadequate health literacy.

Editor's Choice--External Validation of Models Predicting Survival After Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair.

OBJECTIVE: Prediction of survival after intervention for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (RAAA) may support case mix comparison and tailor the prognosis for patients and relatives. The objective of this study was to assess the performance of four prediction models: the updated Glasgow Aneurysm Score (GAS), the Vancouver scoring system, the Edinburgh Ruptured Aneurysm Score (ERAS), and the Hardman index. DESIGN, MATERIALS, AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study in 449 patients in ten hospitals with a RAAA (intervention between 2004 and 2011). The primary endpoint was combined 30 day or in hospital death.The accuracy of the prediction models was assessed for discrimination (area under the curve [AUC]). An AUC>0.70 was considered sufficiently accurate. In studies with sufficiently accurate discrimination, correspondence between the predicted and observed outcomes (i.e. calibration) was recalculated. RESULTS: The AUC of the updated GAS was 0.71 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66-0.76), of the Vancouver score was 0.72 (95% CI 0.67-0.77), and of the ERAS was 0.58 (95% CI 0.52-0.65). After recalibration, predictions by the updated GAS slightly overestimated the death rate, with a predicted death rate 60% versus observed death rate 54% (95% CI 44-64%). After recalibration, predictions by the Vancouver score considerably overestimated the death rate, with a predicted death rate 82% versus observed death rate 62% (95% CI 52-71%). Performance of the Hardman index could not be assessed on discrimination and calibration, because in 57% of patients electrocardiograms were missing. CONCLUSIONS: Concerning discrimination and calibration, the updated GAS most accurately predicted death after intervention for a RAAA. However, the updated GAS did not identify patients with a ≥95% predicted death rate, and therefore cannot reliably support the decision to withhold intervention.

Smoking cessation after an acute coronary syndrome: immediate quitters are successful quitters.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention guidelines stress the importance of smoking cessation and recommend intensive follow-up. To guide the development of such cessation support strategies, we analysed the characteristics that are associated with successful smoking cessation after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: We used data from the Randomised Evaluation of Secondary Prevention for ACS patients coordinated by Outpatient Nurse SpEcialists (RESPONSE) trial (n = 754). This was designed to quantify the impact of a nurse-coordinated prevention program, focusing on healthy lifestyles, traditional CVD risk factors and medication adherence. For the current analysis we included all smokers (324/754, 43 %). Successful quitters were defined as those who reported abstinence at 1 year of follow-up. RESULTS: The majority of successful quitters quit immediately after the ACS event and remained abstinent through 1 year of follow-up, without extra support (128/156, 82 %). Higher education level (33 vs. 15 %, p < 0.01), no history of CVD (87 vs. 74 %, p < 0.01) and being on target for LDL-cholesterol level at 1 year (78 vs. 63 %, p < 0.01) were associated with successful quitting. CONCLUSION: The majority of successful quitters at 1 year stopped immediately after their ACS. Patients in this group showed that it was within their own ability to quit, and they did not relapse through 1 year of follow-up. Our study indicates that in a large group of patients who quit immediately after a life-threatening event, no relapse prevention program is needed.

Nurses' perspectives on nurse-coordinated prevention programmes in secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a pilot survey.

BACKGROUND: Secondary prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD) is increasingly provided by nurse-coordinated prevention programs (NCPP). Little is known about nurses' perspectives on these programs. AIM: To investigate nurses' perspectives/experiences in NCPPs in acute coronary syndrome patients. METHODS: Thirteen nurses from NCPPs in 11 medical centers in the RESPONSE trial completed an online survey containing 45 items evaluating 3 outcome categories: (1) conducting NCPP visits; (2) effects of NCPP interventions on risk profiles and (3) process of care. RESULTS: Nurses felt confident in counseling/motivating patients to reduce CAD risk. Interventions targeting LDL, blood pressure and medication adherence were reported as successful, corresponding with significant improvements of these risk factors. Improving weight, smoking and physical activity was reported as less effective. Screening for anxiety/depression was suggested as an improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses acknowledge the importance and effectiveness of NCPPs, and correctly identify which components of the program are the most successful. Our study provides a basis for implementation and quality improvement for NCCPs.