Heleen B van der Zwaan, Deborah N Kalkman, Marjolijn J Broekman, Annemiek C C Evers, Bernardine H Stegeman, Philippine Kiès, Caroline M van der Marel, Judith van der Vloed, Iris C D Westendorp, Jérôme M J Cornette
{"title":"2025 European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the management of cardiovascular disease and pregnancy : Statement of endorsement by the NVVC.","authors":"Heleen B van der Zwaan, Deborah N Kalkman, Marjolijn J Broekman, Annemiek C C Evers, Bernardine H Stegeman, Philippine Kiès, Caroline M van der Marel, Judith van der Vloed, Iris C D Westendorp, Jérôme M J Cornette","doi":"10.1007/s12471-026-02085-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-026-02085-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article contextualises the 2025 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for managing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and pregnancy in the Netherlands. The guideline addendum provides additional recommendations for situations where the ESC guidelines may not fully align with Dutch clinical practice. By endorsing the ESC guidelines through this addendum, the Netherlands Society of Cardiology (Nederlandse Vereniging Voor Cardiologie) supports its members in adhering to evidence-based management strategies for CVD and pregnancy.</p>","PeriodicalId":18952,"journal":{"name":"Netherlands Heart Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149195406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nick L van Vreeswijk, Zarina Habibi, Sander van Doorn, Joris R de Groot, Monika Stoll, Daniël A Pijnappels, Jordi Heijman, Robert G Tieleman, Ron Pisters, Martin E W Hemels, Fleur V Y Tjong, Ulrich Schotten, Michiel Rienstra, Geert-Jan Geersing, Jelle C L Himmelreich
{"title":"Atrial cardiomyopathy: from knowledge gaps to clinical impact : The role of the EmbRACE Network.","authors":"Nick L van Vreeswijk, Zarina Habibi, Sander van Doorn, Joris R de Groot, Monika Stoll, Daniël A Pijnappels, Jordi Heijman, Robert G Tieleman, Ron Pisters, Martin E W Hemels, Fleur V Y Tjong, Ulrich Schotten, Michiel Rienstra, Geert-Jan Geersing, Jelle C L Himmelreich","doi":"10.1007/s12471-026-02081-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-026-02081-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Atrial cardiomyopathy (AtCM) is increasingly recognised as an underlying atrial substrate contributing to atrial fibrillation (AF), heart failure (HF), and cardio-embolic stroke. However, diagnostic criteria, disease thresholds, and targeted treatment strategies remain poorly defined.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To describe the rationale, structure, and translational strategy of the EmbRACE (Electro-Molecular Basis and the theRapeutic management of Atrial Cardiomyopathy, fibrillation and associated outcomEs) network, a national consortium established to address key knowledge gaps in AtCM.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>EmbRACE integrates mechanistic research, computational modelling, clinical trials, and implementation science within seven interconnected work packages. Human atrial tissue biobanking and deep phenotyping (WP1) enable molecular profiling of candidate pathways (WP2), which are validated in experimental models (WP3). Computational modelling and artificial intelligence (WP4) integrate multimodal clinical and biological data to derive composite AtCM phenotypes and severity frameworks. Substrate-targeting clinical trials evaluate AF ablation (RACE X; WP5), weight reduction using GLP‑1 agonists (DUTCH-WAIST; WP6), and optimised rate control using calcium channel antagonists (SMART-VERAPAF; WP6). Implementation science (WP7) focuses on guideline integration, decision-support tools, and governance of AI-based risk models. EmbRACE establishes a translational pipeline from mechanistic discovery to clinical application. By integrating tissue-level insights with multimodal risk modelling and interventional trials, the consortium aims to define clinically meaningful AtCM thresholds, to validate indirect markers, and to determine whether targeted treatment modifies disease progression and clinical outcomes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>EmbRACE provides a multidisciplinary framework to transform AtCM from a theoretical construct into a clinically actionable entity, enabling earlier detection, improved risk stratification, and AtCM-directed therapy in cardiovascular prevention.</p>","PeriodicalId":18952,"journal":{"name":"Netherlands Heart Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149195460","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"AI in daily cardiology and structured multidisciplinary care.","authors":"Pim van der Harst","doi":"10.1007/s12471-026-02094-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-026-02094-y","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18952,"journal":{"name":"Netherlands Heart Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149195423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Transforming Cardiology with AI: Ambient AI scribes in Epic.","authors":"Fleur M M M M Meijer, Jonas S S G S S G de Jong","doi":"10.1007/s12471-026-02089-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-026-02089-9","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18952,"journal":{"name":"Netherlands Heart Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149170017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marjan S A Aertsen-van der Kuip, Yvonne M J Goërtz, D H Frank Gommans, Sebastiaan C A M Bekkers, Kirsten Boerlage-van Dijk, Margriet W Feenema-Aardema, Carolien M H B Lucas, Marike A de Meij, Nicole H M K Uszko-Lencer, Daisy J A Janssen
{"title":"Palliative care in chronic heart failure in the Netherlands: practices, competencies and barriers among hospital-based healthcare professionals : From the Working Group of Palliative Care of the Netherlands Society of Cardiology (NVVC).","authors":"Marjan S A Aertsen-van der Kuip, Yvonne M J Goërtz, D H Frank Gommans, Sebastiaan C A M Bekkers, Kirsten Boerlage-van Dijk, Margriet W Feenema-Aardema, Carolien M H B Lucas, Marike A de Meij, Nicole H M K Uszko-Lencer, Daisy J A Janssen","doi":"10.1007/s12471-026-02083-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12471-026-02083-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Although proven beneficial, palliative care (PC) and advance care planning (ACP) for patients with chronic heart failure (HF) are still underexposed. This study aimed to (1) explore current practices of hospital-based healthcare professionals (HCPs) regarding PC and ACP in chronic HF, (2) assess their competencies, and (3) identify barriers to integrate PC and ACP into routine chronic HF care in the Netherlands.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A task force of the Netherlands Society of Cardiology developed an online survey using Qualtrics. The survey was distributed among HCPs involved in the care of patients with chronic HF by the Netherlands Society of Cardiology and the Dutch Society of Cardiovascular Nurses to contacts, and through social media channels between February and March 2022.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>120 HCPs (cardiologists (49%), nurses and nurse practitioners (40%), and allied professionals (11%)) completed the survey. 97% of HCPs found PC and ACP for patients with chronic HF (very) important, yet only about one third providing such care regularly. While 78% reported being able to recognize PC needs, only 23% felt sufficiently skilled providing PC. Reported priorities for improvement included ACP, recognition of PC needs, interprofessional collaboration, communication with patients and significant others, and sufficient time to provide PC and ACP.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>HCPs acknowledge the importance of PC and ACP in chronic HF, but integration into routine practice remains limited. Barriers are lack of skills and time constraints. There is a need for education and appropriate organization of PC and ACP for patients with chronic HF in the Netherlands.</p>","PeriodicalId":18952,"journal":{"name":"Netherlands Heart Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149112570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Miro Salih, Yannicke A J Sloots, Martin E W Hemels, Laura M G Meems, Maarten J G Leening, Chahinda Ghossein-Doha
{"title":"Obesity, incretin-based therapies, and cardiovascular disease in women.","authors":"Miro Salih, Yannicke A J Sloots, Martin E W Hemels, Laura M G Meems, Maarten J G Leening, Chahinda Ghossein-Doha","doi":"10.1007/s12471-026-02084-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12471-026-02084-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Obesity in women is a growing and multifaceted public health challenge, driven by complex interactions among biological, hormonal, and psychosocial factors across the life course. From menarche to menopause, hormonal fluctuations influence fat distribution, energy balance, and metabolic risk, contributing to sex-specific trajectories of weight gain. Moreover, women-specific conditions, such as pregnancy-related weight retention, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, further amplify long-term cardiometabolic risk. Women with obesity have an increased risk of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and ischemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries.Emerging pharmacological treatments for obesity, including incretin-based therapies, offer an evidence-based addition to lifestyle interventions and metabolic and bariatric surgery and have demonstrated substantial weight loss effects and cardiovascular benefits. However, sex-specific differences in efficacy, tolerability, and long-term outcomes of these new pharmacological treatments remain insufficiently researched. Moreover, concerns regarding reproductive health and access to care uniquely affect women. This review addresses the need for a life course and sex-specific approach to obesity and its treatment, integrating metabolic, reproductive, and cardiovascular perspectives.</p>","PeriodicalId":18952,"journal":{"name":"Netherlands Heart Journal","volume":" ","pages":"341-351"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13615230/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148983058","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maarten J G Leening, Fabrice M A C Martens, Martin E W Hemels
{"title":"Weight management in cardiology practice: challenges and opportunities.","authors":"Maarten J G Leening, Fabrice M A C Martens, Martin E W Hemels","doi":"10.1007/s12471-026-02075-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12471-026-02075-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Obesity poses a clear challenge to the cardiovascular landscape. In this viewpoint, we advocate that we need to prepare for the practical implementation of weight management in Dutch cardiology practice by 1) educating ourselves and our peers on obesity and its treatment thereof, 2) considering how to facilitate the appropriate amount of clinical follow-up, and 3) establish local arrangements with all health care professionals involved in the chain of lifelong atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk management. Pending the results of ongoing clinical trials involving weight management therapies tested for other cardiovascular conditions (e.g. heart failure and atrial fibrillation), and the evolving landscape of health care budgets and capacity, it is to be expected that the role of weight management therapies will become increasingly prominent in cardiology practice: we therefore argue it would be wise to make an early start with systematic implementation.</p>","PeriodicalId":18952,"journal":{"name":"Netherlands Heart Journal","volume":" ","pages":"380-383"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13615267/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149025556","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bente M de Roos, Valerie M Monpellier, Dominique Hansen, Thijs M H Eijsvogels, Dick H J Thijssen, Jan H M Karregat
{"title":"Beyond weight loss: the value of physical activity and exercise for improving cardiometabolic risk factors in individuals with overweight and obesity.","authors":"Bente M de Roos, Valerie M Monpellier, Dominique Hansen, Thijs M H Eijsvogels, Dick H J Thijssen, Jan H M Karregat","doi":"10.1007/s12471-026-02076-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12471-026-02076-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The global prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased markedly over recent decades. In clinical obesity care, and in the management of other chronic conditions, the role of physical exercise has largely been evaluated in the context of weight loss. Yet, while it only leads to modest changes in body weight, structured exercise provides extensive health benefits beyond weight loss. A multimodal exercise approach, progressing from reducing sedentary time to incorporating aerobic and resistance training, can provide an effective strategy to improve cardiovascular and metabolic health and body composition. Moreover, integrating structured exercise into surgical and pharmacological obesity care trajectories may support long-term, post-treatment health improvements. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on the effect of exercise on cardiometabolic health and body composition in individuals with overweight and obesity. Furthermore, we also examine the role of structured exercise in supporting cardiometabolic health and preserving skeletal muscle mass during surgical and pharmacological obesity treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":18952,"journal":{"name":"Netherlands Heart Journal","volume":" ","pages":"330-340"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13615223/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148970250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}