Clinical Research Directory

The LifeMeds Cohort

The goal of this observational study is to investigate lifestyle behaviours, their determinants, and their associations with health outcomes in adults with multimorbidity, defined as the presence of at least two lifestyle-related chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and/or cancer. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What lifestyle trajectories can be identified over time in individuals with multimorbidity, how do these trajectories differ across multimorbidity profiles, and which psychological, social, and sociodemographic factors are associated with these trajectories? * How are lifestyle trajectories associated with morbidity, mortality, health-related quality of life, and other major health outcomes over time? Participants will complete one annual questionnaire during a follow-up period of ten years.

Qungasvik (Toolbox)-Healthy Hearts: A Cultural Approach to Reducing Chronic Disease Risk

Due to the extreme remoteness, transportation challenges, and lack of access to clinical care, the delivery of preventative health interventions in rural Alaska Native communities is a top tribal priority. Chronic disease and behavioral health contribute to the higher rates of mortality and morbidity experienced in rural Alaska. This study will test the effectiveness of a culturally-grounded, community-delivered preventive intervention, Qungasvik-Healthy Hearts, to reduce risk factors associated with chronic disease and behavioral health in three rural Alaska Native communities. Implementation science outcomes will identify key contextual factors, social determinants and costs associated with health outcomes related to positive change in behavior, blood pressure, diet and physical activity, assessed among 300 participants from the three rural communities.

Holistic CRM Care vs Standard of Care in a Primary Care Setting

Cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and type 2 diabetes, collectively referred to as Cardio-Renal-Metabolic (CRM) conditions, are among the most common chronic diseases in society. In Sweden, approximately 2.5 million people live with high blood pressure, one million have impaired kidney function, and more than half a million live with diabetes or heart disease. Many individuals are affected by more than one of these conditions at the same time, meaning that up to 30% of patients registered at an average primary care practice belong to this group. These diseases are closely interconnected. Developing one condition substantially increases the risk of developing another, and the risk of cardiovascular events and other complications rises sharply as the number of diagnoses increases. As people live longer, it is becoming increasingly common for older adults to live with several chronic diseases simultaneously. This places a considerable burden on healthcare systems, both medically and economically. At the same time, there is strong evidence that early, coordinated interventions can slow disease progression and reduce the risk of future complications. Despite clear national guidelines, there is still room for improvement in clinical practice. One important reason is that healthcare services and treatment guidelines remain largely organized around individual diagnoses rather than around the overall needs of each patient. As a result, different specialists often work in parallel, sometimes pursuing different treatment goals and strategies. This can lead to both under-treatment and over-treatment, contributing to unequal care and unnecessary burden for patients. The CRM Centre at Danderyd Hospital provides an example of how integrated care can work in practice. There, assessment, treatment, and follow-up are delivered by a multidisciplinary team that takes the patient's entire disease profile into account. The model has produced promising results for patients with more complex medical needs. However, the vast majority of people with CRM-related conditions are managed within primary care. This study evaluates a new primary care model that builds on the experience gained from the CRM Centre at Danderyd Hospital. The aim is to bring together all patients with CRM diagnoses within a common care structure and a unified treatment strategy. Participating primary care centres will receive education and access to practical support materials that integrate recommendations from guidelines covering all three disease areas. An important component is strengthened collaboration between primary and specialist care. Participating centres will have opportunities for clinical observerships, multidisciplinary digital case conferences with specialists at Danderyd Hospital, and targeted consultations regarding patients with CRM conditions through the Department of Internal Medicine at Ersta Hospital. The project will be integrated into routine clinical practice without requiring additional patient visits. All patient management will be carried out by the responsible healthcare professionals, supported by the educational programme, clinical tools, and collaboration with specialist services. Using electronic health record data, national registers, and health economic analyses, the study will evaluate whether the model improves the use of evidence-based medications, increases achievement of treatment targets, and enhances cost-effectiveness. Long-term outcomes, including survival and rates of hospital admission, will also be assessed. By bringing together care from multiple perspectives, this project addresses a clear and growing clinical need: providing patients with CRM conditions with more coordinated, effective, and equitable care. The findings are expected to be directly applicable across primary care and could inform future models for managing multimorbidity on a broader scale.

Effect of Pre-operative Program in Open Heart Surgery

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn the effect of self prepare by multimedia program before going to heart surgery. The main questions it aim to answer is: Is preparing for heart surgery on your own or with a physical therapist the same? Researchers were compare the effects of preoperative physical therapy between multimedia and traditional programs in patients undergoing open heart surgery. Participants were received traditional therapy from a physical therapist or used a multimedia self-learning program.

Prevalenza Della Insulino Resistenza e Correlate Malattie Cardiovascolari Nella città di Napoli

This is an observational retrospective study to verify the prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) in the municipality of Naples and ita association with cardiovascular diseases. Primary outcome measure 1: The prevalence of IR. Primary outcome measure 2: The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in subjects with IRnand in subjects without IR. The data for analysis will be derived from the database of COMEGEN, a cooperative of general practitioners (ASL Napoli 1 Centro)who follow about 200,000 individuals of the ten districts of the municipality of Naples. As surrogate index of IR will be used the TyG with the cutoff ≥8.5. Aldo the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in the two groups will be derivedby the registered cardiovascular diseases in the database.

Digital Care for Holistic Health in Older Adults With Diabetes and Multimorbidity

The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of the "Digital Care Community Common Good" program in improving disease control indicators, self-management abilities, depression, and quality of life among patients with comorbidities and type 2 diabetes. The study was designed as a two-year experimental study, with a specific area in New Taipei City selected as the research site. In the first year, the main tasks include establishing an integrated intervention team composed of primary healthcare providers and community resources, expanding the functionalities of the mHealth platform, developing digital educational materials for diabetes comorbidities care, and recruiting and training 6 to 8 community care volunteers. Additionally, 169 eligible participants with type 2 diabetes and comorbidities will be recruited from four communities, completing baseline assessments and randomization into groups. In the second year, a 6-month intervention and effectiveness evaluation of the " Digital Care Community Common Good " program will be implemented. The intervention includes online and in-person educational sessions, telephone care, use of the mHealth platform (featuring educational, data monitoring, contextual learning, interactive, and reminders), as well as home visits, case discussions, and individualized care plans for high-risk cases. Disease control indicators, selfmanagement abilities, depression, and quality of life will be tracked immediately post-intervention, at 3 month, and at 6 month to assess outcomes and changes over time. This study expects to enhance health management for diabetes patients with comorbidities through digital care and interdisciplinary collaboration, offering evidence-based insights and recommendations for policy implementation in the integration of community and primary healthcare models.

Platelets and Plasma Lipids Relationship as a Biomarker and Potential Therapeutic Target of Thrombogenesis

The objective of this clinical trial is to compare the effect of two different lipid emulsion formulations versus no emulsion on platelet aggregation in individuals without a history of ischemic disease. The hypothesis of this study is: Platelet aggregation is inversely associated with higher plasma lipid concentrations. The researchers will compare platelet aggregation in the presence and absence of lipid nanoemulsions in vitro through three pathways using the agonists collagen, adenosine diphosphate, and arachidonic acid. The tests will be performed using light-transmission aggregometry. Various participant parameters, such as lipid profile, will be evaluated to analyze possible correlations with the observed results. Participants must: Meet the study's inclusion criteria; Sign the informed consent form; Report to the blood draw laboratory at InCor's AB on the scheduled date and time after fasting for at least 8 hours.

COMPARE-VENT Feasibility Pilot Study

Cardiac disease complicated by respiratory insufficiency comprises the most frequent indication for cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) admission, with nearly one-third patients requiring advanced respiratory support and over 20% patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). IMV among patients with impaired cardiovascular reserve is further compounded by the adverse impact of positive pressure ventilation (PPV) and systemic sedation on intracardiac hemodynamics, pulmonary vascular mechanics and consequently end-organ perfusion. Despite widespread use, evidence guiding optimal ventilatory practices and mode selection in cardiovascular intensive care unit patients remains limited. Pressure-controlled and volume-controlled ventilation may differ in their effects on patient-ventilator synchrony, sedation requirements, and hemodynamic impact, but comparative data among patients with critical cardiac disease remains inconclusive. This pilot study will evaluate the feasibility of implementing a pragmatic cluster-randomized crossover trial comparing ventilatory modes in a contemporary cardiovascular intensive care unit.

Support Your Heart, Phase 1

This is a pilot feasibility study designed to establish the feasibility and acceptability of the "Support Your Heart" (SYH) study's phone-based protocols regarding AHA's LE8, social isolation, loneliness, and stress. The age range for this intervention is 18-39, which is intended to reflect the transitional life period from adolescence to adulthood. Participants must also display at least two LE8 risk factors for cardiovascular disease (e.g., not enough sleep or physical activity; tobacco/nicotine product use; elevated body mass index; high cholesterol, high blood pressure, elevated HbA1c , and/or poor diet). Participants will receive weekly calls (averaging around 20-30 minutes each) from a SYH health coach in order to review key concepts, give personalized progress, and provide consistent feedback over the course of 12 weeks. SYH staff will measure improvement in AHA metrics as well as participant burden, acceptability, satisfaction, adherence, and retention. This research has the potential to create substantial public health impact by addressing cardiovascular health, social isolation, loneliness, and stress, all of which represent significant burdens to individual health.

Lifestyle Advice in CVD

Individuals living in the UK who are from ethnic minority communities have a higher risk of heart disease and strokes than white individuals. This risk arises from the social determinants of health. These include lifestyle factors such as diet, physical activity and smoking. Improving these lifestyle factors in individuals is an essential part of reducing the chances of heart attacks and stroke. Patients may have diets and lifestyles arising from their cultural and religious backgrounds but receive advice which is not aligned to their own customs and experiences. Receiving advice which is not relevant to their own types of diet and lifestyle customs may create difficulties for patients in managing their heart and circulation health. Moreover, the dissonance between advice given and patient-specific relevance may lead to poorer adherence to the recommendations made to manage their condition. This can lead to poorer health outcomes for these patients. In addition, they may be advised to adopt diets and behaviours which are not appropriate to their cultures and may be also difficult to put into practice. This is important because lifestyle advice aligned to a patient's existing diet, behaviours and cultural beliefs leads to improved control of these health conditions. Learning to provide dietary and lifestyle advice relevant to individual patients needs is an important skill for the clinicians caring for them.

An Study Looking at Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Outcomes for Octogenarians

The goal of this observational study is to understand the makeup of the participants aged 80 years and older who had stents fitted or balloon expansion of their heart arteries, otherwise known as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), at our hospital over a seven year period. The investigators will aim to describe the cohort with respect to their health conditions, age and frailty in addition to whether their procedure was planned or an emergency. The investigators will also look at the outcomes of these participants up to one year post procedure. The secondary aim is to look for associations between participant variables and their outcomes in hospital and at 1 year. The specific outcomes the investigators will look at are: inpatient complications and the incidence of heart attacks, strokes, unplanned PCI, cardiac rehospitalisation or death.

Improving Lifestyle Habits and Metabolic Health in Forensic Psychiatric Patients

Background:People in compulsory forensic psychiatric care experience high rates of metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and related lifestyle risk factors, yet structured preventive health interventions are uncommon in secure psychiatric settings. The Structured Health Dialogue (SHD), a Swedish primary care model for cardiovascular disease prevention, combines motivational interviewing with individualised risk assessment and tailored lifestyle advice. Objective:To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of an adapted SHD intervention in forensic psychiatric inpatient care. Methods:This single-centre, parallel-group, randomized controlled feasibility trial will recruit 50 adults aged 18-64 years from a secure forensic psychiatric clinic in Sweden. Participants will be randomized (1:1) to SHD plus usual care or usual care alone. The SHD includes health screening, lifestyle assessment, personalised cardiovascular risk feedback, and tailored recommendations. Primary outcomes are recruitment, retention, dropout, and assessment completion rates. Secondary outcomes include changes in metabolic risk factors and patient-reported quality of life and functioning (EQ-5D-5L, Mental Fatigue Scale) from baseline to 12 months. Conclusion: This study will inform the feasibility and potential effectiveness of implementing structured, person-centred preventive health interventions in forensic psychiatric care, guiding the design of a future full-scale trial.

Algal Lutein Against Decline of Intellectual Nimbleness

Lutein is a xanthophyll pigment found in photosynthesizing organisms. Its beneficial effects on health, including brain function and visual performance, have been recognized for many years. However, to date, only a limited number of well-designed human intervention studies have been published regarding the effects of incorporating lutein into the daily diet (as humans are unable to synthesize lutein endogenously). Unfortunately, within the Western dietary pattern, the average daily intake of lutein is approximately 1.7 mg, whereas achieving health benefits- such as reducing the risk of age-related macular degeneration and cataract, as well as neurodegenerative diseases- requires an intake of 6 to 14 mg per day. In light of the above, it is therefore justified to enrich the daily diet with products that are sources of lutein. Unfortunately, the consumption of dark green vegetables- the richest dietary source of lutein-remains insufficient. Lutein preparations currently available on the market are extracted from marigold or calendula flowers. However, lutein production from these raw materials requires greater water consumption and land use, which is not aligned with the principles of sustainable development. An alternative approach involves the production of lutein preparations from microalgae (from species approved as food by the European Food Safety Authority, EFSA), as the rate of lutein production from microalgae is three to six times higher than that from marigold flowers. Taking the above into account, the primary objective of this project is to evaluate the dose-response relationship in establishing the anti-aging mechanism of action of lutein derived from microalgae. As part of the project, a six-month randomized, placebo-controlled trial is planned. The study will include 300 polish women (aged 48-60 years), after natural menopause, with visceral obesity (waist circumference ≥ 88 cm). In order to enable the inclusion of such a large study population, the research team will conduct intensified recruitment efforts for several months prior to the initiation of the dietary intervention. Participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: lutein supplementation at a dose of 6 mg (n = 100), lutein supplementation at a dose of 14 mg (n = 100), or placebo (n = 100). The volunteers will be instructed to take the prescribed preparation daily for 180 days. All preparations will be identical in appearance, taste, and smell. All volunteers expressing willingness to participate in the experiment will be asked to provide written informed consent prior to enrollment in the study. The study will be conducted in accordance with the previously calculated sample size (n = 300 postmenopausal women with visceral obesity). In order to obtain a homogeneous study population, appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria will be applied. Conducting the research in such a large and homogeneous group will enable the generation of high-quality scientific evidence identifying the dose of microalgae-derived lutein that allows for the determination of its anti-aging mechanism of action. It will also be possible to elucidate the potential role of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in feces in this process, which may represent a significant novelty in this field of research. The study will contribute to the development of new knowledge regarding the anti-aging properties of lutein derived from microalgae in populations vulnerable to cognitive impairment (postmenopausal women). However, microalgae-derived lutein may be used as a dietary supplement not only in the studied group but also in the general population. The specific objectives are as follows: * To assess the effect of lutein derived from microalgae (at doses of 6 mg and 14 mg) on the concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), inflammatory markers, cardiometabolic parameters, fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations, and cognitive function in postmenopausal women with visceral obesity. * To evaluate adherence to lutein supplementation recommendations (by assessing macular pigment optical density). * To determine whether supplementation with microalgal lutein increases fecal SCFA concentrations and whether SCFAs may act as mediators in improving inflammatory markers and cognitive function in postmenopausal women with visceral obesity. * To determine whether supplementation with microalgal lutein (at doses of 6 mg and 14 mg) affects changes in selected gut bacterial populations and β-glucuronidase enzymatic activity in postmenopausal women with visceral obesity. * To analyse the association between polymorphisms in genes related to lutein metabolism and transport in the body and the effectiveness of supplementation with this compound. * To identify dietary behaviour patterns associated with high exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and the presence of inflammation in postmenopausal women with visceral obesity.

Perioperative Vericiguat in Patients Undergoing Cardiovascular Surgery

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of perioperative vericiguat in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. Patients at high risk of heart failure or with confirmed cardiac dysfunction will be randomly assigned to receive either vericiguat plus standard of care or standard of care alone. The primary objective is to determine whether perioperative administration of vericiguat can reduce (I) the Incidence of Early Postoperative Hemodynamic Deterioration or Clinically Significant Myocardial Injury; (II) Incidence of Major Sterile Inflammation-Related Organ Injuries (MSIRI), and the incidence of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE) within 12 months after surgery.

FES Cycling With BFR in the Spinal Cord Injury Population

Cardiometabolic Disease (CMD) is the silent killer within the spinal cord injury/disease (SCI/D) population. Many SCI/D patients' initial CMD presentation is with a heart attack, stroke, or sudden cardiac death, highlighting the need for interventions to reduce CMD risk. CMD contributes to 46% of deaths, with 30-50% of the SCI/D population living with undiagnosed CMD. Treating CMD risk is more challenging in the SCI/D population due to prolonged inactivity, inability to exercise, and excessive caloric intake to expenditure ratio. Identifying accessible and inclusive strategies to combat CMD risk in the SCI/D population is a compelling and urgent health priority. Blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise involves applying inflatable cuffs to the proximal end of an individual's limbs. Changes to the amount of blood flowing into and out of the limb lead to a low oxygen environment within the limb, shifting the way the muscles can produce the energy required to function, increasing the benefits of low- and moderate-intensity exercise. Coupling BFR with Functional electrical stimulation cycling (FES-cycling), a commonly used rehabilitation tool within the SCI population, could improve FES-cycling's short- and long-term benefits without reducing the accessibility and inclusiveness of long-term exercise prescription. Although preliminary BFR research in the SCI/D has identified positive muscular improvements, whether FES-cycling coupled with BFR can be safely prescribed or feasibly implemented long-term within the SCI/D population is unknown. The proposed project aims to determine the safety and feasibility of FES-cycling coupled with BFR for 20 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise among adults with chronic spinal cord injury/disease (SCI/D). The research team aims to implement pre-test, eight exercise sessions, and post-test across 6-weeks. Criteria for success include no adverse or severe adverse events not alleviated by ceasing exercise (safety), a 1 to 8 ratio of participants screened to participants eligible (recruitment success), and participants successfully completing all exercise sessions (participant retention).

Role of Endothelial Progenitor Cells Dysregulation and Inflammation in the Pathophysiology of Cardiovascular Complications of Type 2 Diabetes

This study aims to isolate endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from participants with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular complications and to comprehensively characterize EPC dysfunction. Specifically, the study will evaluate maladaptive angiocrine signaling, calcium signaling pathways, and the role of inflammation in EPC function and the progression of atherosclerosis during T2D development. A sub-study will assess EPC functionality by examining endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression and activity, as well as the effectiveness of in vitro eNOS gene enhancement.

Qatar Cardiometabolic Retrospective Cohort-Analysis Using Artificial Intelligence

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and individuals with diabetes or other cardiometabolic conditions are at increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Although advances in prevention and treatment have reduced cardiovascular events globally, cardiometabolic disease continues to represent a significant health burden, particularly in regions with high diabetes prevalence. In Qatar and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries, the prevalence of diabetes and obesity is increasing, contributing to a high proportion of participants presenting with acute coronary syndrome who have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. This observational study will use electronic medical record data from patients hospitalized at the Heart Hospital with acute coronary syndrome and a concomitant diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes. The study will assess trends in cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular events, including readmission and mortality. An artificial intelligence component will be used to develop and validate machine learning based risk prediction models to forecast adverse cardiovascular outcomes in participants with cardiometabolic disease. These models will integrate clinical, biochemical, imaging, and other non-invasive data routinely collected during participants care to identify predictors of cardiovascular events.

Evaluation of the Benefits of Hypnosis During Transoesophageal Echocardiography

Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) is a routine cardiology examination that is performed in most cases under local anaesthesia and is recommended for many indications.The objective of our study will be to evaluate the expected beneficial effect of using conversational hypnosis and hypnosis during a transoesophageal ultrasound examination performed directly in the examination room by the cardiologist conducting the examination.

PMPR and Chlorhexidine on Periodontal Disease and Vascular Function

* Gum inflammation is called gingivitis. Gum disease, known as periodontal disease, is a long-term inflammation of the gums and bone around teeth, leading to tooth loss. Both gingivitis and periodontal disease are also linked to other health problems, including heart disease. Additionally, salivary proteins play a role in maintaining oral health. For example, a protective layer called the salivary pellicle (SP) forms on teeth after tooth brushing and helps defend against harmful bacteria. * Nitrate-reducing bacteria (NRB) are also present in saliva and play a role in oral and cardiovascular health by converting nitrate to nitric oxide (NO). This compound supports blood vessel health and overall cardiovascular function. Therefore, NRB's abundance is linked to lower blood pressure and improved cardiovascular health. * Standard treatments for gum disease include deep cleaning (also called professional mechanical plaque removal, or PMPR), and sometimes chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash is used with PMPR to help reduce mouth bacteria. However, while CHX is effective against plaque (a sticky film of bacteria on the tooth surface), it may reduce the activity of "nitrate-reducing" bacteria (NRB), which are important for producing nitric oxide (NO). * This study investigates the impact of deep cleaning (PMPR) with and without Chlorhexidine mouthwash on salivary and SP proteins, as well as blood vessel function, in people who have gum disease. By examining these links, the investigators aim to gain a deeper understanding of how oral care practices may impact overall health, particularly heart health.

Nut Consumption and Prevention of Non-communicable Diseases: A Global Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis

The relationship between nut consumption and the risk of developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has been a subject of growing interest. However, the findings from previous studies have been conflicting for some health outcomes, such as type-2 diabetes, and have been underexplored for other outcomes, such as neurodegenerative diseases. One contributing factor to these inconsistencies lies in the different analytical approaches and confounding factors used across studies. Furthermore, the majority of previous studies have primarily focused on populations in Europe or the United States, potentially limiting the generalizability of the findings to other global regions. The NUTPOOL project aims to address these gaps by conducting an extensive individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis. This study will evaluate the association between total and specific types of nut consumption and the future risk of NCDs.

Arlington Longitudinal Optimal Healthy Aging Study (ALOHA)

The Arlington Longitudinal Optimal Healthy Aging (ALOHA) Study is a community-based research project led by the Marymount University Center for Optimal Aging (MCOA). The study is designed to help older adults in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area maintain independence, mobility, wellbeing and brain health as they age. Adults aged 50 years and older will receive a comprehensive health assessment at the study site, Center for Optimal Aging- ALOHA Lab at Marymount University (MU) Ballston Campus in Arlington, Virginia. The assessment includes physical and cognitive testing, health and medical history, lifestyle surveys, and biometric measures such as blood pressure, grip strength, body composition by the InBody system, balance and gait speed. Participants will receive their results in a personalized "Health Passport," which summarizes findings and provides tailored recommendations to help manage modifiable health risk factors-such as those linked to Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disease, frailty syndrome, and depression. Participants will return annually for up to 5 years to repeat assessments and receive updated health and wellness recommendations. The study will track changes in health over time and explore the impact of the Health Passport on health behaviors, functional independence, and quality of life. ALOHA will also evaluate the cultural appropriateness of the Health Passport for diverse populations in Northern Virginia. The program incorporates an interprofessional research model, engaging researchers from multiple health professions to work alongside older adults, supporting both participants' wellness and optimal aging.

throMboembolic Risk Associated To High atrIal Fibrillation riSk

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality from treatable conditions in the European Union and the second from preventable causes, with a standardized mortality rate of 257.8 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. In 2022, more than 1.11 million deaths in individuals under 75 years could have been avoided. Atrial fibrillation (AF) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) are highly prevalent in the elderly and generate substantial healthcare costs. AF significantly increases the risk of MACE and is projected to rise markedly in the coming decades. In Europe, AF prevalence is expected to increase 2.5-fold over the next 50 years, with a lifetime risk of 1 in 3-5 individuals after age 55. AF-related strokes are projected to increase by 34%, and ischemic strokes in individuals over 80 are expected to triple between 2016 and 2060. Additionally, a 27% increase is anticipated among stroke survivors who subsequently develop AF or related conditions. AF substantially impacts morbidity, mortality, and disease progression, and early detection and treatment are crucial to prevent severe outcomes. European action plans (2018-2030) and the 2024 ESC/ESO guidelines emphasize early detection and management of AF in primary care. Although several AF prediction models exist, their integration into clinical practice remains challenging. AF represents a clinical continuum, with thrombotic risk present even before arrhythmia onset. High-risk patients for AF also show a high incidence of MACE, defined as a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, systemic embolic events, and cardiovascular death. The proposed strategy involves developing and clinically validating an Artificial Intelligence (AI) model to improve early thrombotic risk prediction in patients at high risk of AF, using MACE as the primary outcome. This model aims to outperform the traditional CHA₂DS₂-VASc score by incorporating both classical and emerging clinical factors. The estimated timeline from clinical validation to commercialization is approximately 48 months. AI-based prediction is expected to enable personalized treatment, reduce the incidence of MACE, hospitalizations, and disability, and improve cost-effectiveness, ultimately decreasing the social and economic burden of AF and stroke in Europe.

Assessment of the Association Between Sleep Disorders Detected by a Simplified Questionnaire and Cardiovascular Diseases

The goal of this observational study is to validate a simplified questionnaire, adapted for routine clinical use, to quickly detect sleep disorders in patient during a cardiology consultation. Two questionnaires were developed for this project. The first is patient-oriented: a prospective, multicentre, national observational registry based on a patient questionnaire designed to quickly detect sleep disorders during a cardiology consultation. The second is aimed at treating cardiologists: this is a simple impact survey designed to assess changes in the practices of cardiologists who participated in CARDIOSOM.

African Studies on Aging and Noncommunicable Diseases Epidemiology

Despite the rising burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), across Africa, high-quality evidence on the distribution of NCDs and their risk factors remains strikingly scarce. Many global estimates continue to rely on limited empirical data from African countries, and this persistent data gap has led major international research collaborations to underrepresent the continent. This reality highlights an urgent need for granular, context-specific, and methodologically robust data on NCDs and their determinants across Africa. The African Studies on Ageing and Noncommunicable Disease Epidemiology (ASANDE) initiative responds directly to this need by assembling harmonized, individual-level datasets from African populations, complemented by comparable data from other global regions. With recruitment underway, ASANDE seeks to quantify and compare the associations between major NCD risk factors, including cardiometabolic, behavioral, and environmental determinants, and the incidence and mortality of major NCD outcomes (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, and other NCDs) across world regions, with a particular emphasis on disparities between African populations and the rest of the global population.