Digital Health in Cardiology: The Estonian Perspective.

BACKGROUND: Digital health is rapidly entering clinical practice in cardiology. Estonia is one of the leading nations in implementing digital nationwide solutions. Recently, the European Society of Cardiology organized the 1st Summit on Digital Health in Tallinn, which provided the opportunity to discuss various aspects concerning the digitalization of cardiology. SUMMARY: The current review focuses on the advancements of Estonian digital health and digital cardiology as well as possible barriers and solutions for implementing digital innovations in cardiology. Key Messages: The authors have included aspects from the recent summit, personal communications, and literature reviews to express the current state and future possibilities of digital health in -cardiology from the Estonian perspective.

Promoting the systematic use of real-world data and real-world evidence for digital health technologies across Europe: a consensus framework.

Despite the acceleration in the use of digital health technologies across different aspects of the healthcare system, the full potential of real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE) arising from the technologies is not being utilised in decision-making. We examine current national efforts and future opportunities to systematically use RWD and RWE in decision-making in five countries (Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom), and then develop a framework for promotion of the systematic use of RWD and RWE. A review assesses current national efforts, complemented with a three-round consensus-building exercise among an international group of experts (n1 = 44, n2 = 24, n3 = 24) to derive key principles. We find that Estonia and Finland have invested and developed digital health-related policies for several years; Germany and Italy are the more recent arrivals, while the United Kingdom falls somewhere in the middle. Opportunities to promote the systematic use of RWD and RWE were identified for each country. Eight building blocks principles were agreed through consensus, relating to policy scope, institutional role and data collection. Promoting post-market surveillance and digital health technology vigilance ought to rely on clarity in scope and data collection with consensus reached on eight principles to leverage RWD and RWE.

Late adult presentation of ALCAPA syndrome: need for a new clinical classification? A case report and literature overview.

BACKGROUND: Anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a very uncommon congenital coronary artery anomaly, most commonly presenting in early infancy. Late adult presentation of ALCAPA syndrome is extremely rare. CASE SUMMARY: We present a case of a 76-year-old patient with first presentation of ALCAPA. The coronary anomaly was first diagnosed during elective coronary angiography. The case was discussed at the Heart Team meeting and as the patient was asymptomatic, had good coronary collateral circulation, a medical treatment strategy was chosen and the patient was discharged in a good physical condition. During 3 years of follow-up, the patient has experienced no cardiovascular complications. DISCUSSION: We hereby also discuss briefly the clinical presentation, epidemiology, diagnostics and treatment options for adults with newly diagnosed ALCAPA and discuss the need for a new clinical classification. Only a few cases have been published of septuagenarians or octogenarians with first presentation of ALCAPA. To our knowledge, the patient presented in our case was one of the least symptomatic patients during her eight decades of life.