These are the 7 challenges on the Dutch Cardiovascular Agenda

Cardiovascular disease is the second cause of death in the Netherlands. Cardiovascular diseases are also the primary cause of hospital admissions. There are currently 1.7 million Dutch people with cardiovascular disease. If we do nothing, there will be another one million living with a life-changing cardiovascular condition in just a few years. That can – and must – be changed. Together with patients and their loved ones, scientists, healthcare providers, policy makers, donors and volunteers, we have identified our cardiovascular agenda – the seven most important challenges for the next ten years.

We must strengthen our healthcare system so that everyone receives the best quality healthcare.

It is no secret that healthcare is under pressure. Patient numbers are increasing rapidly. Staff shortages have worsened. Delayed treatment of cardiovascular patients can put lives are at risk. We must ensure that everyone receives sufficient care. How? By organising our healthcare system differently.

Een illustratie over 'Zorg voor iedereen'

People at high risk of disease should continue to receive regular, personalised care. Those at low risk people should be empowered to monitor and improve their health at home. Rapid help for acute cardiovascular events must be available to everyone. To achieve this, sufficient funding and staff are vital for providing the best possible care in the Netherlands.

We must take diversity into account when treating cardiovascular diseases.

Historically, cardiovascular trials focussed on male patient data. Thanks to cardiovascular research funders, female data are now included and many projects specifically investigate cardiovascular diseases in women, such as pre-eclampsia or heart attack presentation. But this is by no means enough. Diversity extends far beyond gender.

Een illustratie over 'Oog voor verschillen'

Age, lifestyle, ethnicity or economic background can significantly influence our risk of cardiovascular disease or the side effects we may experience when taking medication. Although we know more than we ever have about how diversity impacts our health, we are only scratching the surface.

We believe it is a basic human right that every person receives the best care. That is why attention must be paid to our differences to improve the quality of scientific research and care of people with cardiovascular diseases.

We must apply new knowledge and clinical techniques in healthcare more quickly.

The Netherlands is a world leader in cardiovascular research. Yet much still needs to be done after research results are in, costing significant time and money. After initial research results, it takes an average of 17 years before patients benefit from new medicines, techniques or treatments. Scientific discoveries must be applied in practice as quickly as possible and new developments must better meet the needs of patients. This requires attention, funds, expertise and governmental input. Together, we will ensure that patients benefit faster from scientific findings.

Een illustratie over 'Kennis sneller toepassen'

We must work towards an environment that makes healthy living easy.

We want to half the number of new cardiovascular patients in the next ten years. If everyone lives a healthier lifestyle by not smoking and managing their weight, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol, it is possible. An environment that promotes better health will play a key role in helping us achieve this.

Healthy food should be affordable and positioned at the front of supermarkets. Food manufacturers should reduce salt and sugar quantities in their products. Playing fields in community spaces would encourage children to exercise. Together with the government, social organisations and businesses, we can ensure that a healthier environment becomes the new normal.

We must uncover cardiovascular diseases in time.

Imagine if you were treated before you noticed you had cardiovascular disease. That may sound unrealistic, but new techniques are allowing doctors to detect cardiovascular diseases earlier and earlier. Cardiovascular diseases are often present before patients develop symptoms, leading to irreparable damage or even death. We want to prevent this.

Een illustratie over 'op tijd ontdekken'

Faster detection of cardiovascular diseases and those at high-risk will mean patients receive the care they need, faster. More knowledge is needed to better, detect, understand and treat cardiovascular diseases before it is too late. Together with scientists and doctors, we can protect more people’s futures.

We must detect and treat cardiovascular disease with the patient in mind.

A common question for both patients and their doctors is - is this the right form of treatment? Every person’s disease progression or response to treatments differ. Side effects, hereditary predisposition and other diseases may play a role in this. Doctors are also unable to predict which people will become seriously ill, particularly those with a rare hereditary condition. Together with our partners, we are committed to more research into tailored treatments.

We must recognise heart failure better and develop personalised treatments.

In heart failure, the heart cannot pump enough blood around the body. This can cause shortness of breath, fatigue and fluid retention. Approximately 500,000 Dutch people have this serious disease, yet more than half do not know they have it. Due to an ageing population, the number of people with heart failure will increase rapidly in the coming years.

Een illustratie over 'hartfalen aanpakken'

Of people aged 50, 1 in 4 will develop heart failure and 1 in 20 people will die from heart failure. There is currently no cure for heart failure and treatments may ease the effects of one type of heart failure, but not another. Treatments are needed for all types of heart failure. By diagnosing patients earlier and development treatments for every type of heart failure, less people will suffer and more can enjoy a better quality of life.

What exactly is a cardiovascular agenda?
These seven most important challenges in the field of cardiovascular disease are the result of group discussions and a national vote. We call it our cardiovascular agenda. These challenges will receive increased global attention in the coming years, for example through research and public health information. Following our 2014 cardiovascular agenda and the great strides we made in addressing its challenges, it is time we strive to achieve new goals.
How was the agenda created?
We believe it is important that everyone supports the challenges identified in our new agenda. In collaboration with our partner Harteraad, we organised 18 group discussions with key stakeholders. More than 180 people participated including patients and their loved ones, scientists, healthcare providers, policy makers, donors and volunteers. Devised and monitored by an independent supervisory committee, we collected all ideas and developed them into a questionnaire with 20 challenges. 10,955 people voted on this questionnaire from October 26 to November 20, including patients and their loved ones, scientists, healthcare providers, donors, volunteers and interested parties. The cardiovascular agenda emerged from this broad vote.
How is this going to continue?
We believe our cardiovascular agenda will help ensure fewer people will suffer cardiovascular diseases, but much still needs to be done. Next, we will work with experienced experts, scientists and doctors to bring our cardiovascular agenda to life, details of which will be announced after summer 2024. In the coming years, we will implement our new heart and pace agenda.
We believe in healthy hearts for everyone, now and in the future.

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