Search

Huberta E Hart,1,2,* Kim Ditzel,1,* Guy E Rutten,1 Esther de Groot,1 Samuel Seidu,3 Kamlesh Khunti,3 Rimke C Vos1,4 1Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands; 2Leidsche Rijn Julius Health Centers, Utrecht, The Netherlands; 3Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK; 4Department of Public Health and Primary Care/lumc-Campus the Hague, Leiden University Medical Center, The Hague, The Netherlands*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Huberta E HartJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Erasmuslaan 68, Zeist 3707 ZE, The NetherlandsTel +31 6 1695 0844Email h.e.hart@umcutrecht.nlAim: To evaluate if, one year after notification of possible overtreatment, diabetes care providers de-intensified glucose-lowering medications and to gain insight into the opinions and beliefs of both care providers and patients regarding de-intensification.Methods: Mixed methods using routine care data from five health-care centres in the Netherlands. Patient characteristics and medication prescription of patients, previously identified as possibly over-treated, were extracted from patients’ medical records. Opinions of care providers were obtained through interviews. Patients received questionnaires about their diabetes treatment and were asked to participate in focus groups.Results: A total of 64 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes were previously identified as possibly over-treated and included; 57.8% male, median age 75 years (IQR=72–82), median diabetes duration 12 years (IQR=8–18). De-intensification was implemented in more than half (n=36) of them. Care providers preferred person-centred care above just setting general HbA1c target values, considering patient characteristics (such as comorbidity) and patient’s preference. Patients valued glucose levels as most important in determining their treatment. Both patients and care providers felt that de-intensification should occur gradually.Conclusion: Treatment had been de-intensified in more than half of the patients (56.3%). Insight in reasons for not de-intensifying elderly patients is important since treatment for them can be “person-centred care”. De-intensification is an iterative and time-intensive process.Keywords: elderly, overtreatment, hypoglycaemia, insulin therapy, primary care, type 2 diabetes

Aims: Adults with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of cardiovascular events (CVE), the world's leading cause of mortality. The SCORE2-Diabetes model is a tool designed to estimate the 10-year risk of CVE specifically in individuals with type 2 diabetes. However, the performance of such models may vary across different demographic and socioeconomic groups, necessitating validation and assessment in diverse populations. This study aims to externally validate SCORE2-Diabetes and assess its performance across various socioeconomic and migration origins in the Netherlands., Methods: We selected adults with type 2 diabetes, aged 40-79 years and without previous CVE from the Extramural LUMC Academic Network (ELAN) primary care data cohort from 2007 to 2023. ELAN data were linked with Statistics Netherlands registry data to obtain information about the country of origin and socioeconomic status (SES). CVE was defined as myocardial infarction, stroke, or CV mortality. Non-CV mortality was considered a competing event. Analyses were stratified by sex, Dutch versus other non-Dutch countries of origin, and quintiles of SES., Results: Of the 26,544 included adults with type 2 diabetes, 2,518 developed CVE. SCORE2-Diabetes showed strong predictive accuracy for CVE in the Dutch population (observed-to-expected ratio (OE)=1.000, 95% CI=0.990-1.008 for men, and OE=1.050, 95% CI=1.042-1.057 for women). For non-Dutch individuals, the model underestimated CVE risk (OE=1.121, 95% CI=1.108-1.131 for men, and OE=1.100, 95% CI=1.092-1.111 for women). The model also underestimated the CVE risk (OE>1) in low SES groups and overestimated the risk (OE<1) in high SES groups. Discrimination was moderate across subgroups with c-indices between 0.6 and 0.7., Conclusions: SCORE2-Diabetes accurately predicted the risk of CVE in the Dutch population. However, it underpredicted the risk of CVE in the low SES groups and non-Dutch origins, while overpredicting the risk in high SES men and women. Additional clinical judgment must be considered when using SCORE2-Diabetes for different SES and countries of origin., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

Objectives: To highlight current evidence pertaining to the measurement methods and prevalence of high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) in patients with PAD, as well as to evaluate the relationship between HTPR and recurrent adverse cardiovascular and limb events in PAD patients., Methods: A systematic review of English-language literature on HTPR in patients with PAD. An electronic literature search of PubMed and Medline was performed in May 2021., Results: A total of 29 studies with a total number of 11,201 patients with PAD were identified. HTPR during clopidogrel treatment ranges from 9.8 to 77%, and during aspirin treatment ranges from 4.1 to 50% of PAD patients. HTPR was associated with adverse clinical outcomes. The need for limb revascularisation was higher in patients with HTPR during clopidogrel use. Similarly, HTPR during aspirin use in the PAD population was predictive of adverse cardiovascular events (HR 3.73; 95% CI, 1.43-9.81; p = .007). A wide range of techniques were applied to measure platelet resistance, without consensus on cut-off values. Furthermore, differing patient populations, a variety of antiplatelet regimens, and differing clinical endpoints highlight the high degree of heterogeneity in the studies included in this review., Conclusion: No consensus on technique or cut-off values for HTPR testing has been reached. Patients with HTPR are potentially at a greater risk of adverse limb-related and cardiovascular events than patients sensitive to antiplatelet therapy illustrating the need for clinical implementation of HTPR testing. Future research must aim for consistent methodology. Adaptation of antiplatelet therapy based on HTPR results requires further exploration., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Introduction: Older adults with acute functional decline may visit emergency departments (EDs) for medical support despite a lack of strict medical urgency. The introduction of transitional care teams (TCT) at the ED has shown promise in reducing avoidable admittances. However, the optimal composition and implementation of TCTs are still poorly defined. We evaluated the effect of TCTs consisting of an elderly care physician (ECP) and transfer nurse versus a transfer nurse only on reducing hospital admissions, as well as the experience of patients and caregivers regarding quality of care., Methods: We assessed older adults (≥ 65 years) at the ED with acute functional decline but no medical indication for admission. Data were collected on type and post-ED care, and re-visits were evaluated over a 30-day follow-up period. Semi-structured interviews with stakeholders were based on the Consolidated-Framework-for-Implementation-Research, while patient and caregiver experiences were collected through open-ended interviews., Results: Among older adults (N = 821) evaluated by the TCT, ECP and transfer nurse prevented unnecessary hospitalization at the same rate (81.2%) versus a transfer nurse alone (79.5%). ED re-visits were 15.6% (ECP and transfer nurse) versus 13.5%. The interviews highlighted the added value of an ECP, which consisted of better staff awareness, knowledge transfer and networking with external organizations. The TCT intervention in general was broadly supported, but adaptability was regarded as an important prerequisite., Conclusion: Regardless of composition, a TCT can prevent unnecessary hospitalization of older adults without increasing ED re-visiting rates, while the addition of an ECP has a favourable impact on patient and professional experiences., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) have an increased risk of hypoglycaemic episodes when using sulphonylureas or insulin. In the Netherlands, guidelines exist for reducing glucose-lowering medication in older patients. However, evidence is lacking that a medication reduction in older patients can be safely pursued. Here, we will examine if promoting the deprescribing of insulin/sulphonylureas with a deprescribing programme (DPP) in general practice affects T2D-complications in older overtreated patients., Methods: We will perform a 1:1 cluster randomised controlled trial in 86 general practices in the Netherlands. The DPP will consist of education sessions with general practitioners and practice nurses about reducing glucose-lowering medication in older patients (≥ 70 years). Topics of the sessions include the necessity of deprescribing, tools to initiate deprescribing and strategies to discuss deprescribing with patients (shared decision making). The DPP further includes a support programme with practice visits. The study will employ a selection tool to identify possibly overtreated older patients from the electronic medical records of the general practitioner. Eligibility for enrolment in the study will be based on HbA1c targets indicated by the Dutch guidelines, which depend on age, diabetes duration, presence of frailty, and life expectancy. The control group will provide usual care. We aim to include 406 patients. The follow-up period will be 2 years. For the primary outcome, the effect of the DPP on T2D-complications will be assessed by counting the cumulative incidence of events related to under- and overtreatment in T2D as registered in the electronic medical records. We shall perform an intention-to-treat analysis and an analysis including only patients for whom deprescribing was initiated. The implementation of the DPP in general practice will be evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively using the Extended Normalisation Process Theory (ENPT) and the Reach, Efficacy - Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM) model. Other secondary outcomes include quality of life, cognitive functioning, events related to overtreatment or undertreatment, biomarkers of health, amount of blood glucose-lowering medication prescriptions, and cost-effectiveness., Discussion: This study will provide insight into the safety and feasibility of a programme aimed at deprescribing sulphonylureas/insulin in older people with T2D who are treated in general practice., Trial Registration: ISRCTN Registry, ISRCTN50008265 , registered 09 March, 2023., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Aims/hypothesis: The aim of this study was to compare cardiovascular risk management among people with type 2 diabetes according to severe mental illness (SMI) status., Methods: We used linked electronic data to perform a retrospective cohort study of adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in Scotland between 2004 and 2020, ascertaining their history of SMI from hospital admission records. We compared total cholesterol, systolic BP and HbA 1c target level achievement 1 year after diabetes diagnosis, and receipt of a statin prescription at diagnosis and 1 year thereafter, by SMI status using logistic regression, adjusting for sociodemographic factors and clinical history., Results: We included 291,644 individuals with type 2 diabetes, of whom 1.0% had schizophrenia, 0.5% had bipolar disorder and 3.3% had major depression. People with SMI were less likely to achieve cholesterol targets, although this difference did not reach statistical significance for all disorders. However, people with SMI were more likely to achieve systolic BP targets compared to those without SMI, with effect estimates being largest for schizophrenia (men: adjusted OR 1.72; 95% CI 1.49, 1.98; women: OR 1.64; 95% CI 1.38, 1.96). HbA 1c target achievement differed by SMI disorder and sex. Among people without previous CVD, statin prescribing was similar or better in those with vs those without SMI at diabetes diagnosis and 1 year later. In people with prior CVD, SMI was associated with lower odds of statin prescribing at diabetes diagnosis (schizophrenia: OR 0.54; 95% CI 0.43, 0.68, bipolar disorder: OR 0.75; 95% CI 0.56, 1.01, major depression: OR 0.92; 95% CI 0.83, 1.01), with this difference generally persisting 1 year later., Conclusions/interpretation: We found disparities in cholesterol target achievement and statin prescribing by SMI status. This reinforces the importance of clinical review of statin prescribing for secondary prevention of CVD, particularly among people with SMI., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Despite advances in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, excess mortality persists within the diabetes population. This study explores the components of this excess mortality and their interaction with sex., Methods: Using Danish registries (2002-2019), we identified residents aged 18-99 years, their diabetes status, and recorded causes of death. Applying Lexis-based methods, we computed age-standardized mortality rates (asMRs), mortality relative risks (asMRRs), and log-linear trends for cause-specific mortality., Findings: From 2002 to 2019, 958,278 individuals died in Denmark (T2D: 148,620; T1D: 7830) during 84.4 M person-years. During the study period, overall asMRs declined, driven by reducing cardiovascular mortality, notably in men with T2D. Conversely, cancer mortality remained high, making cancer the leading cause of death in individuals with T2D. Individuals with T2D faced an elevated mortality risk from nearly all cancer types, ranging from 9% to 257% compared to their non-diabetic counterparts. Notably, obesity-related cancers exhibited the highest relative risks: liver cancer (Men: asMRR 3.58 (3.28; 3.91); Women: asMRR 2.49 (2.14; 2.89)), pancreatic cancer (Men: asMRR 3.50 (3.25; 3.77); Women: asMRR 3.57 (3.31; 3.85)), and kidney cancer (Men: asMRR 2.10 (1.84; 2.40); Women: asMRR 2.31 (1.92; 2.79)). In men with type 2 diabetes, excess mortality remained stable, except for dementia. In women, diabetes-related excess mortality increased by 6-17% per decade across all causes of death, except cardiovascular disease., Interpretation: In the last decade, cancer has emerged as the leading cause of death among individuals with T2D in Denmark, emphasizing the need for diabetes management strategies incorporating cancer prevention. A sex-specific approach is crucial to address persistently higher relative mortality in women with diabetes., Funding: Supported by Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, which is partially funded by an unrestricted donation from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, and by The Danish Diabetes Academy., Competing Interests: HS has received personal consulting fees from Novartis, Pfizer, Neumirna and Merck Sharpe & Dome within the last 36 months unrelated to the present study. The remaining authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Background: The concept of Positive Health (PH) has gained increasing attention as a way of measuring individuals' ability to adapt in the face of contextual challenges. However, a suitable measurement instrument for PH that encompasses contextual factors has not yet been developed. This paper responds to this need by developing a Context-specific Positive Health (CPH) measurement instrument that aligns with the Capability Approach (CA)., Methods: The measurement instrument was developed and tested among a representative sample of 1002 Dutch internet survey panel members with diverse sociodemographic backgrounds. The instrument was developed in two stages: a preparation phase consisting of focus groups and expert consultations, and a validation among a representative panel of Dutch citizens. The goal of the preparation phase, was to pilot test and refine previously proposed Positive Health questionnaires into an initial version of the CPHQ. The validation phase aimed to examine the initial CPHQ's factorial validity using Factor Analysis, and its concurrent validity using Multivariate Regression Analysis., Results: The developed questionnaire demonstrated adequate factorial and concurrent validity. Furthermore, it explicitly includes an assessment of resilience, this being a key component of PH., Conclusions: The introduced measurement tool, the CPHQ, comprises 11 dimensions that we have labeled as follows: relaxation, autonomy, fitness, perceived environmental safety, exclusion, social support, financial resources, political representation, health literacy, resilience, and enjoyment. In this article, we present four major contributions. Firstly, we embedded the measurement in a theoretical framework. Secondly, we focused the questionnaire on a key concept of Positive Health - the "ability to adapt." Thirdly, we addressed issues of health inequality by considering contextual factors. Finally, we facilitated the development of more understandable measurement items., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Lifestyle intervention programmes target behavioural risk factors that contribute to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Unfortunately, sustainable implementation of these programmes can be challenging. Gaining insights into the barriers and facilitators for successful implementation is important for maximising public health impact of these interventions. The Healthy Heart (HH) programme is an example of a combined lifestyle intervention programme., Aim: To analyse the reach, adoption, and implementation of the HH programme., Design & Setting: A mixed-methods study conducted in a general practice setting in The Netherlands., Method: Quantitative data were collected from the Healthy Heart study (HH study), a non-randomised cluster stepped-wedge trial to assess the effect of the HH programme on patients at high risk of developing CVDs at practice level. Qualitative data were obtained through focus groups., Results: Out of 73 approached general practices, 55 implemented the HH programme. A total of 1082 patients agreed to participate in the HH study, of whom 64 patients were referred to the HH programme and 41 patients participated. Several barriers for participation were identified such as time investment, lack of risk perception, and being confident in changing lifestyle on their own. Important barriers for healthcare providers (HCPs) to refer a patient were time investment, lack of information to sufficiently inform patients, and preconceived notions regarding which patients the programme was suitable for., Conclusion: This study has offered insights from a patient and HCP perspective regarding barriers and facilitators for implementation of the group-based lifestyle intervention programme. The identified barriers and facilitators, and the suggested improvements, can be used by others who wish to implement a similar programme., (Copyright © 2023, The Authors.)

Background and Objectives: Female-specific factors and psychosocial factors may be important in the prediction of stroke but are not included in prediction models that are currently used. We investigated whether addition of these factors would improve the performance of prediction models for the risk of stroke in women younger than 50 years., Methods: We used data from the Stichting Informatievoorziening voor Zorg en Onderzoek, population-based, primary care database of women aged 20-49 years without a history of cardiovascular disease. Analyses were stratified by 10-year age intervals at cohort entry. Cox proportional hazards models to predict stroke risk were developed, including traditional cardiovascular factors, and compared with models that additionally included female-specific and psychosocial factors. We compared the risk models using the c -statistic and slope of the calibration curve at a follow-up of 10 years. We developed an age-specific stroke risk prediction tool that may help communicating the risk of stroke in clinical practice., Results: We included 409,026 women with a total of 3,990,185 person-years of follow-up. Stroke occurred in 2,751 women (incidence rate 6.9 [95% CI 6.6-7.2] per 10,000 person-years). Models with only traditional cardiovascular factors performed poorly to moderately in all age groups: 20-29 years: c -statistic: 0.617 (95% CI 0.592-0.639); 30-39 years: c -statistic: 0.615 (95% CI 0.596-0.634); and 40-49 years: c -statistic: 0.585 (95% CI 0.573-0.597). After adding the female-specific and psychosocial risk factors to the reference models, the model discrimination increased moderately, especially in the age groups 30-39 (Δ c -statistic: 0.019) and 40-49 years (Δ c -statistic: 0.029) compared with the reference models, respectively., Discussion: The addition of female-specific factors and psychosocial risk factors improves the discriminatory performance of prediction models for stroke in women younger than 50 years., (© 2023 American Academy of Neurology.)

Objectives: Pregnancy is a predictor of women's health later in life. The risk of eventually developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and/or type 2 diabetes (T2D) increases three to seven times, after pre-eclampsia, hypertension gravidarum or gestational diabetes. The Heart for Women in The Hague project was designed to offer targeted screening to this high-risk population. This research aimed to gather insight regarding the initial experiences of healthcare providers and women with pre-eclampsia, hypertension gravidarum or gestational diabetes., Design and Setting: This study applied a qualitative semistructured interview design using an interview guide based on 'The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).' Interviews were recorded, transcribed and coded in accordance with the five main CFIR themes. The setting of the study was primary and secondary care in The Hague, the Netherlands. Interviews were carried out from December 2021 until February 2022. The language was Dutch or English., Participants: Participants (n=13) were women of the target population (n=7) and relevant healthcare professionals (n=6)., Results: Healthcare providers and women were generally positive concerning screening. Healthcare providers agreed that this forgotten group deserves attention and felt that the regional transmural agreement (RTA) provided a clear policy. Women stated that they would like screening to continue and were open-minded regarding lifestyle guidance. Reported barriers included current lack of an easy way of contacting the population after a year, lack of knowledge among the women concerning increased risk, unfamiliarity of new colleagues with the RTA and lack of evidence that screening actually prevents disease., Conclusion: Implementation of screening programmes to prevent or delay the development of CVD and/or T2D after complicated pregnancies will likely improve awareness in both patients and healthcare providers. Healthcare providers considered the RTA important because it concerns a forgotten high-risk population. Future research should focus on the improved effectiveness of tailored interventions to delay or prevent CVD., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Introduction: Older adults with an acute moderate-to-severe lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) or pneumonia are generally treated in hospitals causing risk of iatrogenic harm such as functional decline and delirium. These hospitalisations are often a consequence of poor collaboration between regional care partners, the lack of (acute) diagnostic and treatment possibilities in primary care, and the presence of financial barriers. We will evaluate the implementation of an integrated regional care pathway ('The Hague RTI Care Bridge') developed with the aim to treat and coordinate care for these patients outside the hospital., Methods and Analysis: This is a prospective mixed methods study. Participants will be older adults (age≥65 years) with an acute moderate-to-severe LRTI or pneumonia treated outside the hospital (care pathway group) versus those treated in the hospital (control group). In addition, patients, their informal caregivers and treating physicians will be asked about their experiences with the care pathway. The primary outcome of this study will be the feasibility of the care pathway, which is defined as the percentage of patients treated outside the hospital, according to the care pathway, whom fully complete their treatment without the need for hospitalisation within 30 days of follow-up. Secondary outcomes include the safety of the care pathway (30-day mortality and occurrence of complications (readmissions, delirium, falls) within 30 days); the satisfaction, usability and acceptance of the care pathway; the total number of days of bedridden status or hospitalisation; sleep quantity and quality; functional outcomes and quality of life., Ethics and Dissemination: The Medical Research Ethics Committee Leiden The Hague Delft (reference number N22.078) has confirmed that the Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act does not apply to this study. The results will be published in international peer-reviewed journals., Trial Registration Number: ISRCTN68786381., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)

Aims: Implicit gender biases (IGBs) are unconscious evaluations about a person based on gender. IGBs of healthcare providers may affect medical decision making. This study investigated whether IGBs and genders of patients and general practitioners (GPs) influence diagnostics and treatment decisions in the context of diabetes type 2., Methods: Ninety-nine GPs participated in this randomized online study. Implicit Associations Tasks were used to measure two IGBs, related to lifestyle (women have a healthier lifestyle than men) and communication (men are less communicative than women). Clinical decisions regarding type 2 diabetes were measured with vignettes that included a fictional male or female patient case., Results: Female GPs exhibited a significant lifestyle IGB (p < 0.001). GPs of both genders exhibited a significant communication IGB (p < 0.001). Several associations between IGBs and clinical decisions were found. The gender of the vignette character affected several outcomes, for example GPs were less certain in the diabetes diagnosis when the character was a woman (p < 0.001)., Conclusion: We demonstrated that GPs have IGBs and these biases as well as patient's gender affect decisions of GP's when they are solving a diabetes vignette case. Future research is needed to understand the most important consequences of IGBs in the context of type 2 diabetes., (© 2023 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Diabetes UK.)

Aims: There are sex differences in the excess risk of diabetes-associated cardiovascular disease. However, it is not clear whether these sex differences exist with regard to other complications like mental health aspects. Therefore, we investigated sex differences in the association of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2D) with cognitive function, depression, and quality of life (QoL)., Materials and Methods: In a population-based cross-sectional cohort study (n = 7639; age 40-75 years, 50% women, 25% T2D), we estimated sex-specific associations, and differences therein, of prediabetes and T2D (reference: normal glucose metabolism) with measures of cognitive function, depression, and physical and mental QoL. Sex differences were analysed using multiple regression models with interaction terms., Results: In general, T2D, but not prediabetes, was associated with higher odds of cognitive impairment, major depressive disorder, and poorer QoL. The odds ratio (OR) of cognitive impairment associated with T2D was 1.29 (95% CI: 0.96-1.72) for women and 1.39 (1.10-1.75) for men. The OR of major depressive disorder associated with T2D was 1.19 (0.69-2.04) for women and 1.68 (1.02-2.75) for men. The mean difference of the physical QoL score (ranging from 0 to 100, with 100 indicating the best possible QoL) associated with T2D was -2.09 (-2.92 to -1.25) for women and -1.81 (-2.48 to -1.13) for men. The mean difference of the mental QoL score associated with T2D was -0.90 (-1.79 to -0.02) for women and -0.52 (-1.23 to 0.20) for men. There was no clear pattern of sex differences in the associations of either prediabetes or T2D with measures of cognitive function, depression, or QoL., Conclusions: In general, T2D was associated with worse cognitive function, depression, and poorer QoL. The strength of these associations was similar among women and men., (© 2023 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Diabetes UK.)

Improving population health and reducing inequalities through better integrated health and social care services is high up on the agenda of policymakers internationally. In recent years, regional cross-domain partnerships have emerged in several countries, which aim to achieve better population health, quality of care and a reduction in the per capita costs. These cross-domain partnerships aim to have a strong data foundation and are committed to continuous learning in which data plays an essential role. This paper describes our approach towards the development of the regional integrative population-based data infrastructure Extramural LUMC (Leiden University Medical Center) Academic Network (ELAN), in which we linked routinely collected medical, social and public health data at the patient level from the greater The Hague and Leiden area. Furthermore, we discuss the methodological issues of routine care data and the lessons learned about privacy, legislation and reciprocities. The initiative presented in this paper is relevant for international researchers and policy-makers because a unique data infrastructure has been set up that contains data across different domains, providing insights into societal issues and scientific questions that are important for data driven population health management approaches., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aims/hypothesis: Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. However, body composition differs between women and men. In this study we investigate the association between diabetes status and body composition and whether this association is moderated by sex., Methods: In a population-based cohort study (n=7639; age 40-75 years, 50% women, 25% type 2 diabetes), we estimated the sex-specific associations, and differences therein, of prediabetes (i.e. impaired fasting glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance) and type 2 diabetes (reference: normal glucose metabolism [NGM]) with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)- and MRI-derived measures of body composition and with hip circumference. Sex differences were analysed using adjusted regression models with interaction terms of sex-by-diabetes status., Results: Compared with their NGM counterparts, both women and men with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes had more fat and lean mass and a greater hip circumference. The differences in subcutaneous adipose tissue, hip circumference and total and peripheral lean mass between type 2 diabetes and NGM were greater in women than men (women minus men [W-M] mean difference [95% CI]: 15.0 cm 2 [1.5, 28.5], 3.2 cm [2.2, 4.1], 690 g [8, 1372] and 443 g [142, 744], respectively). The difference in visceral adipose tissue between type 2 diabetes and NGM was greater in men than women (W-M mean difference [95% CI]: -14.8 cm 2 [-26.4, -3.1]). There was no sex difference in the percentage of liver fat between type 2 diabetes and NGM. The differences in measures of body composition between prediabetes and NGM were generally in the same direction, but were not significantly different between women and men., Conclusions/interpretation: This study indicates that there are sex differences in body composition associated with type 2 diabetes. The pathophysiological significance of these sex-associated differences requires further study., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Aims: To quantify the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on top of medical determinants on the development of diabetes-related complications in young adults with type 2 diabetes., Methods: In this observational population-based study, SDOH (income and origin) were linked to routine primary care data. Young adults (18-45 years) with incident type 2 diabetes between 2007 and 2013 were included. The main outcome, the development of the first micro- or macrovascular complication, was analyzed by multivariate Cox regression. Medical determinants included antidiabetic treatment, HbA1c in the year after diagnosis, body mass index, comorbidity and smoking., Results: Of 761 young adults (median age: 39 years (IQR 33-42), men: 49%, Western origin: 36%, low income: 48%), 154 developed at least one complication (median follow-up 99 months (IQR 73-123)). Young men of non-Western origin were more likely to develop a complication (HR 1.98 (1.19-3.30)), as were young adults with HbA1c > 7% (>53 mmol/mol) (HR: 1.72 95% CI: 1.15-2.57). No associations were found with income. Being women was protective., Conclusion: In this multi-ethnic population, non-Western origin was associated with the development of complications, but only in men. Low income was not associated with developing complications. The importance of adequate HbA1c regulation was re-emphasized by this study., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Aims: Covid-19 caused changes on the delivery of diabetes care. This study aimed to explore perceptions of healthcare providers across Europe concerning 1) the impact of covid-19 on delivery of diabetes care; 2) impact of changes in diabetes care on experienced workload; 3) experiences with video consultation in diabetes care., Methods: Cross-sectional survey among healthcare providers in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Turkey, Ukraine and Sweden, with a focus on primary care., Results: The survey was completed by 180 healthcare providers. During the COVID-19 pandemic 57.1% of respondents provided less diabetes care and 72.8% observed a negative impact on people with diabetes. More than half of respondents (61.9%) expressed worries to some extent about getting overloaded by work. Although the vast majority considered their work meaningful (85.6%). Almost half of healthcare providers (49.4%) thought that after the pandemic video-consultation could be blended with face-to-face contact., Conclusions: Less diabetes care was delivered and a negative impact on people with diabetes was observed by healthcare providers. Despite healthcare providers' feeling overloaded, mental wellbeing seemed unaffected. Video consultations were seen as having potential. Given the remaining covid-19 risks and from the interest of proactive management of people with diabetes, these findings urge for further exploration of incorporating video consultation in diabetes care., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of offering the combined lifestyle programme "Healthy Heart", addressing overweight, diet, physical activity, smoking and alcohol, to improve lifestyle behaviour and reduce cardiovascular risk., Design: A practice-based non-randomised stepped-wedge cluster trial with two-year follow-up. Outcomes were obtained via questionnaires and routine care data. A cost-utility analysis was performed. During the intervention period, "Healthy Heart" was offered during regular cardiovascular risk management consultations in primary care in The Hague, The Netherlands. The period prior to the intervention period served as the control period., Results: In total, 511 participants (control) and 276 (intervention) with a high cardiovascular risk were included (overall mean ± SD age 65.0 ± 9.6; women: 56%). During the intervention period, 40 persons (15%) participated in the Healthy Heart programme. Adjusted outcomes did not differ between the control and intervention period after 3-6 months and 12-24 months. Intervention versus control (95% CI) 3-6 months: weight: β -0.5 (-1.08-0.05); SBP β 0.15 (-2.70-2.99); LDL-cholesterol β 0.07 (-0.22-0.35); HDL-cholesterol β -0.03 (-0.10-0.05); physical activity β 38 (-97-171); diet β 0.95 (-0.93-2.83); alcohol OR 0.81 (0.44-1.49); quit smoking OR 2.54 (0.45-14.24). Results were similar for 12-24 months. Mean QALYs and mean costs of cardiovascular care were comparable over the full study period (mean difference (95% CI) QALYs: -0.10 (-0.20; 0.002); costs: EUR 106 (-80; 293))., Conclusions: For both the shorter (3-6 months) and longer term (12-24 months), offering the Healthy Heart programme to high-cardiovascular-risk patients did not improve their lifestyle behaviour nor cardiovascular risk and was not cost-effective on a population level.

Background: Socioeconomic status and ethnicity are not explicitly incorporated as risk factors in the four SCORE2 cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk models developed for country-wide implementation across Europe (low, moderate, high and very-high model). The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the four SCORE2 CVD risk prediction models in an ethnic and socioeconomic diverse population in the Netherlands., Methods: The SCORE2 CVD risk models were externally validated in socioeconomic and ethnic (by country of origin) subgroups, from a population-based cohort in the Netherlands, with GP, hospital and registry data. In total 155,000 individuals, between 40 and 70 years old in the study period from 2007 to 2020 and without previous CVD or diabetes were included. Variables (age, sex, smoking status, blood pressure, cholesterol) and outcome first CVD event (stroke, myocardial infarction, CVD death) were consistent with SCORE2., Findings: 6966 CVD events were observed, versus 5495 events predicted by the CVD low-risk model (intended for use in the Netherlands). Relative underprediction was similar in men and women (observed/predicted (OE-ratio), 1.3 and 1.2 in men and women, respectively). Underprediction was larger in low socioeconomic subgroups of the overall study population (OE-ratio 1.5 and 1.6 in men and women, respectively), and comparable in Dutch and the combined "other ethnicities" low socioeconomic subgroups. Underprediction in the Surinamese subgroup was largest (OE-ratio 1.9, in men and women), particularly in the low socioeconomic Surinamese subgroups (OE-ratio 2.5 and 2.1 in men and women). In the subgroups with underprediction in the low-risk model, the intermediate or high-risk SCORE2 models showed improved OE-ratios. Discrimination showed moderate performance in all subgroups and the four SCORE2 models, with C-statistics between 0.65 and 0.72, similar to the SCORE2 model development study., Interpretation: The SCORE 2 CVD risk model for low-risk countries (as the Netherlands are) was found to underpredict CVD risk, particularly in low socioeconomic and Surinamese ethnic subgroups. Including socioeconomic status and ethnicity as predictors in CVD risk models and implementing CVD risk adjustment within countries is desirable for adequate CVD risk prediction and counselling., Funding: Leiden University Medical Centre and Leiden University., Competing Interests: All authors declare no competing interests., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

Introduction: New glucose-monitoring technologies have different cost-benefit profiles compared with traditional finger-prick tests, resulting in a preference-sensitive situation for patients. This study aimed to assess the relative value adults with diabetes assign to device attributes in two countries., Research Design and Methods: Adults with type 1 or 2 diabetes from the Netherlands (n=226) and Poland (n=261) completed an online discrete choice experiment. Respondents choose between hypothetical glucose monitors described using seven attributes: precision, effort to check, number of finger pricks required, risk of skin irritation, information provided, alarm function and out-of-pocket costs. Panel mixed logit models were used to determine attribute relative importance and to calculate expected uptake rates and willingness to pay (WTP)., Results: The most important attribute for both countries was monthly out-of-pocket costs. Polish respondents were more likely than Dutch respondents to choose a glucose-monitoring device over a standard finger prick and had higher WTP for a device. Dutch respondents had higher WTP for device improvements in an effort to check and reduce the number of finger pricks a device requires., Conclusion: Costs are the primary concern of patients in both countries when choosing a glucose monitor and would likely hamper real-world uptake. The costs-benefit profiles of such devices should be critically reviewed., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

The definition of health has been shifting from disease absence to physical, emotional and social well-being. To demedicalise societal problems, the term Positive Health (PH) was introduced-a concept focused on the ability to adapt and to self-manage, in the face of physical, emotional and social challenges. The concept of PH receives broad attention, among others because a PH dialogue tool is intensively being used as a communication instrument while reflecting on patients' health, but a PH measurement instrument is not yet fully established. Recently, however, a 17-item PH measurement model was proposed. In this paper, a factor analysis and regression analyses were performed to test the factorial validity and concurrent validity of this PH measurement model based on a representative sample of the Dutch population (n = 1016, 50.0% women; age: from 15 until 39 = 29.8%, from 40 until 65 = 43.0%, older than 65 = 27.2%; education levels: low = 28.7%, medium = 42.6%, high = 28.7%). These tests are crucial to understand how well the PH measurement model is suitable as a measurement instrument. The factor analysis provided support for the factorial validity of the proposed PH measurement model. When comparing the proposed PH measurement model with domains of other measurements of health (i.e. BRS, HR-SWB, ICECAP, and EQ5D), to test the concurrent validity, the model explained more than half of the variance in measurements of the domains happiness (R 2  = 0.60) and overall self-rated health (R 2  = 0.57), but explained less than a quarter of the variance in measurements of autonomy (R 2  = 0.17 / R 2  = 0.13), personal growth (R 2  = 0.21), stability (R 2  = 0.20), self-care (R 2  = 0.15), and resilience (R 2  = 0.24). Two of the six domains of the PH measurement model-mental functioning and daily functioning-were weakly related to the other measurements of health. The results of this study imply that the PH measurement model is suitable to measure multiple dimensions of health. They also suggest that the PH measurement model may not be an encompassing measure for the concepts measured through other health measurements and might explain variance in health beyond these other measurements., (© 2021 The Authors. Health and Social Care in the Community published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: Hypertension is a common cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although hypertension can be effectively controlled by blood pressure-lowering drugs, uncontrolled blood pressure is common despite use of these medications. One explanation is therapy non-adherence. Therapy non-adherence can be addressed at the individual level, the level of the healthcare provider and at the healthcare system level. Since the latter two levels are often overlooked, we wished to explore facilitators and barriers on each of these levels in relation to hypertension care for people with hypertension, with a specific focus on therapy adherence., Design: Qualitative study using focus groups of healthcare providers. Data were analysed using the theoretical domains framework (TDF) and the behaviour change wheel., Setting and Participants: Participants were from a highly urbanised city environment (the Hague, Netherlands), and included nine primary care physicians, six practice nurses and five secondary care physicians involved in hypertension care., Results: Nine domains on the TDF were found to be relevant at the healthcare provider level ('knowledge', 'physical, cognitive and interpersonal skills', 'memory, attention and decision processes', 'professional, social role and identity', 'optimism', 'beliefs about consequences', 'intention', 'emotion' and 'social influences') and two domains ('resources' and 'goals') were found to be relevant at the system level. Facilitators for these domains were good interpersonal skills, paying attention to behavioural factors such as medication use, and the belief that treatment improves health outcomes. Barriers were related to time, interdisciplinary collaboration, technical and financial issues, availability of blood pressure devices and education of people with hypertension., Conclusions: This study highlighted a need for better collaboration between primary and secondary care, for more team-based care including pharmacists and social workers, tools to improve interpersonal skills and more time for patient-healthcare provider communication., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Aims: To determine the association between registered mental illness and type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment targets, while taking into account the effects of health expenditure and social determinants of health., Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was based on routine primary care data, linked to socio-economic and medical claims data. The main outcomes, analysed by multivariate logistic regression, were achieving primary care guideline treatment targets for HbA 1c , systolic blood pressure (SBP) and LDL-cholesterol in 2017. We examined the association with diagnosed mental illness registered by the general practitioner (GP) or treated via specialist' mental healthcare between 2016 and 2018, adjusting for, medication use, body mass index, co-morbidity, smoking, and additionally examining effect-modification of healthcare expenditures, migration status, income and demographics., Results: Overall (N = 2862), 64.0% of participants achieved their treatment targets for HbA 1c , 65.1% for SBP and 53.0% for LDL-cholesterol. Adjusted for migrant background, income and care expenditures, individuals <65 years of age with mental illness achieved their HbA 1c treatment target more often than those without (OR (95% CI)): treatment by GP: 1.46 (1.01, 2.11), specialist care: 1.61 (1.11, 2.34), as did men with mental illness for SBP: GP OR 1.61 (1.09, 2.40), specialist care OR 1.59 (1.09, 2.45). LDL-cholesterol target was not associated with mental illness. A migrant background or low income lowered the likelihood of reaching HbA 1c targets., Conclusions: People with registered mental illness appear comparable or better able to achieve diabetes treatment targets than those without. Achieving HbA 1c targets is influenced by social disadvantage., (© 2022 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Diabetes UK.)

Aims: To analyse the performance of a Shared Decision Making (SDM) intervention, we assessed perceived and experienced SDM in General Practitioners (GPs) and patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM)., Methods: Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial (cRCT) testing the effect of a decision aid. Opinions and experienced role regarding SDM were assessed in 72 patients and 18 GPs with the SDM-Q-9 (range 0-45) and Control Preferences Scale (CPS, 0-5), and observed SDM with the OPTION5 (0-20). SDM at baseline was compared to 24 months' follow-up using paired t-tests., Results: At baseline, perceived levels of SDM did not significantly differ between GPs and patients with T2DM (difference of 2.3, p = 0.24). At follow-up, mean patients' perceived level of SDM was 7.9 lower compared to baseline (p < 0.01), whereas GPs' opinions had not changed significantly. After both visits, mean CPS scores differed significantly between patients and GPs. OPTION5 scores ranged between 6 and 20., Conclusion: Patients and GPs perceived similar baseline levels of SDM. Two years later, patients perceived less SDM, while GPs did not change their opinion. SDM was appropriate immediately after training, but perhaps GPs fell back in old habits over time. We recommend repeated SDM training., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Socioeconomic status and ethnicity are not incorporated as predictors in country-level cardiovascular risk charts on mainland Europe. The aim of this study was to quantify the sex-specific cardiovascular death rates stratified by ethnicity and socioeconomic factors in an urban population in a universal healthcare system., Methods: Age-standardized death rates (ASDR) were estimated in a dynamic population, aged 45-75 in the city of The Hague, the Netherlands, over the period 2007-2018, using data of Statistics Netherlands. Results were stratified by sex, ethnicity (country of birth) and socioeconomic status (prosperity) and compared with a European cut-off for high-risk countries (ASDR men 225/100,000 and women 175/100,000)., Findings: In total, 3073 CVD deaths occurred during 1·76 million person years follow-up. Estimated ASDRs (selected countries of birth) ranged from 126 (95%CI 89-174) in Moroccan men to 379 (95%CI 272-518) in Antillean men, and from 86 (95%CI 50-138) in Moroccan women to 170 (95%CI 142-202) in Surinamese women. ASDRs in the highest and lowest prosperity quintiles were 94 (95%CI 90-98) and 343 (95%CI 334-351) for men, and 43 (95%CI 41-46) and 140 (95%CI 135-145), for women, respectively., Interpretation: In a diverse urban population, large health disparities in cardiovascular ASDRs exists across ethnic and socioeconomic subgroups. Identifying these high-risk subgroups followed by targeted preventive efforts, might provide a basis for improving cardiovascular health equity within communities. Instead of classifying countries as high-risk or low-risk, a shift towards focusing on these subgroups within countries might be needed., Funding: Leiden University Medical Center and Leiden University., Competing Interests: None of the authors reported a conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Author(s).)

Background: Women with type 2 diabetes are disproportionally affected by macrovascular complications; we here investigated whether this is also the case for microvascular complications and retinal microvascular measures., Methods: In a population-based cohort study of individuals aged 40-75 years (n = 3410; 49% women, 29% type 2 diabetes (oversampled by design)), we estimated sex-specific associations, and differences therein, of (pre)diabetes (reference: normal glucose metabolism), and of continuous measures of glycemia with microvascular complications and retinal measures (nephropathy, sensory neuropathy, and retinal arteriolar and venular diameters and dilatation). Sex differences were analyzed using regression models with interaction terms (i.e. sex-by- (pre)diabetes and sex-by-glycemia) and were adjusted for potential confounders., Results: Men with type 2 diabetes (but not those with prediabetes) compared to men with normal glucose metabolism, (and men with higher levels of glycemia), had significantly higher prevalences of nephropathy (odds ratio: 1.58 95% CI (1.01;2.46)) and sensory neuropathy (odds ratio: 2.46 (1.67;3.63)), larger retinal arteriolar diameters (difference: 4.29 µm (1.22;7.36)) and less retinal arteriolar dilatation (difference: - 0.74% (- 1.22; - 0.25)). In women, these associations were numerically in the same direction, but generally not statistically significant (odds ratios: 1.71 (0.90;3.25) and 1.22 (0.75;1.98); differences: 0.29 µm (- 3.50;4.07) and: - 0.52% (- 1.11;0.08), respectively). Interaction analyses revealed no consistent pattern of sex differences in the associations of either prediabetes or type 2 diabetes or glycemia with microvascular complications or retinal measures. The prevalence of advanced-stage complications was too low for evaluation., Conclusions: Our findings show that women with type 2 diabetes are not disproportionately affected by early microvascular complications.

Aims: To investigate changes in physical activity (PA) and psychological factors during societal lockdown in people with type 2 diabetes., Methods: A cross-sectional study among Dutch adults with type 2 diabetes. Data were collected using online questionnaires. A multivariate multinomial logistic regression was performed with change in PA during societal lockdown as outcome and perceived change in stress, anxiety, perceived risk for COVID-19 infection, emotional well-being and former PA status as determinants., Results: Five hundred and sixty seven respondents filled out the questionnaire, 536 were included in the final analysis: mean age of 65.9 ± 7.9 years; mean diabetes duration 13.3 ± 8 years; 54% men; 47% reported no change in PA, 27% became less active and 26% became more active during societal lockdown. Participants who were more likely to become less active were participants who experienced more stress (OR: 2.27; 95% CI 1.25-4.13) or less stress (OR: 2.20; 95% CI 1.03-4.71). Participants who were more likely to become more active were participants who experienced more stress (OR: 2.31; 95% CI 1.25, 4.26). Participants with higher emotional well-being (OR: 0.98; 95% CI 0.97, 0.99) were less likely to become less active than to report no change in PA., Conclusions: Changes in PA in people with type 2 diabetes during societal lockdown are associated with changes in psychological factors such as perceived stress and emotional well-being. People with diabetes and their caregivers should be aware of these possible changes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Authors. Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and COPD are chronic medical conditions, for which patients need lifelong healthcare. The aim of this study is to examine in which healthcare setting patients with T2DM and COPD receive their care, and if this is the correct healthcare setting according to guidelines., Method: T2DM and COPD patients from five primary care practices were included. Data concerning healthcare setting and patient- and clinical characteristics were extracted from the electronic medical records. Patient profiles treated in primary care were compared with the profiles of those treated in secondary care. In patients treated in secondary care we evaluated whether treatment allocation was according to the guidelines and if back-referral to primary care should take place., Results: Of the T2DM and COPD patients 7.6% and 29.6% respectively, were treated in secondary care, and 72.7% respectively 31.4% of these were according to the guideline. T2DM patients treated in primary care were older (63 versus 57 years, p < 0.01, had a shorter diabetes duration (8 versus 11 years, p < 0.01) and lower HbA1c (53.0 versus 63.5 mmol/l, p < 0.01) than those treated in secondary care. Those with COPD treated in primary care used less inhalation medication (75.2 versus 90.1%, p < 0.01) and had better spirometry results (67.39 versus 57.53 FEV 1 %pred, p < 0.01)., Conclusion: The majority of the patients with T2DM and COPD were correctly treated in primary care and on average patients with a better health condition were treated in primary care.. Also, those who were treated in secondary care were most of the time treated in the correct treatment setting according to the guidelines.

Introduction: South Asians with diabetes have more severe diabetic retinopathy (DR) and cardiovascular complications than white Caucasians. However, how big this gap is and the relation with the severity of DR has not been studied. Here, we quantify the difference in time from diabetes diagnosis until a first non-fatal Major Adverse Cardiovascular Event (TUF MACE) in different DR groups in South Asians and Europeans., Methods: 3831 adults with type 2 diabetes, 1358 South Asians and 2473 Europeans, treated in our diabetes clinic between 2006 and 2017 were included. Data on risk factors, diabetes duration, age of diagnosis and diabetes complications were collected from the diabetes-specific database and analysed using descriptive statistics and Cox regression. DR was graded in 3 categories, and non-fatal MACE was pre-specified., Results: Prevalence of non-fatal MACE was the same when DR was absent, increased with increasing severity of DR in both ethnic groups, but was more frequent in South Asians with DR (mild: 50 vs. 42% and severe 62 vs. 46%. Classic risk factors only differed in relation to smoking habits, which were significantly lower in South Asians.After correction for classic risk factors and age at diabetes diagnosis TUF MACE was significantly shorter in South Asians, an effect also seen in the no-DR group (4.1 yrs. HR 1.5, 95% CI 1.3-1.8 and 7.4 yrs. earlier, HR 2.0, 95% CI 1.6-2.6 for no-DR and severe DR, respectively)., Conclusions: When adjusted for age at diabetes diagnosis, we show that time until first non-fatal MACE in South Asians is significantly shorter compared to Europeans and increases from no- to severe DR., Competing Interests: All authors declare no conflict of interest related to the manuscript., (© 2021 The Authors. Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)