Background Women with a vulnerable health status, as determined by a low socioeconomic status and poor lifestyle behaviours, are at risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Offering tailored... Show moreBackground Women with a vulnerable health status, as determined by a low socioeconomic status and poor lifestyle behaviours, are at risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Offering tailored preconception lifestyle care can significantly help to improve pregnancy outcomes. We hypothesize that so-called 'nudges' can be a successful way of increasing the uptake of preconception lifestyle care. A nudge is a behavioural intervention that supports healthy choices by making them easier to choose. Nudging, however, raises many moral questions. Effectiveness and respect for autonomy are, among other criteria, required for a nudge to be morally permissible. In general, the target group knows best what they find permissible and what would motivate them to change their lifestyle. Therefore, this study - conducted in women with a vulnerable health status - aimed to identify their preferences towards a nudge, provided via a mobile application that aims to help them adopt healthy lifestyle behaviours by offering rewards. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with twelve women with a vulnerable health status. A framework approach was used to analyse the data. A thematic content analysis was conducted on five themes: (1) "Usefulness of an app as an integral information source", (2) "Permissibility and effects of offering rewards", (3) "Preferences regarding content", (4) "Preferences regarding type of rewards and system of allocation", and (5) "Barriers". Results Of the 12 participants, 11 deemed an app as integral information source concerning the preconception period useful. None of the participants objected to being nudged i.e., being rewarded for healthy behaviour. All participants stated that they would like the app to contain information on healthy nutrition and 8 participants wanted to know how to get pregnant quickly. Furthermore, participants stated that the freedom to choose the timing and content of the reward would increase the probability of successful behavioural change, and having to pay or contact a healthcare provider to access the app may prevent women using the app. Conclusions These insights into the preferences of women with a vulnerable health status towards nudging will inform the design of an effective app-based nudge. This may help to improve prepregnancy health as investment in health of current and future generations. Show less
Vijver, P.L. van de; Schalkwijk, F.H.; Numans, M.E.; Slaets, J.P.J.; Bodegom, D. van 2022
Background: Physical inactivity has contributed to the current prevalence of many age-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Peer coach physical activity... Show moreBackground: Physical inactivity has contributed to the current prevalence of many age-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Peer coach physical activity intervention are effective in increasing long term physical activity in community dwelling older adults. Linking peer coach physical activity interventions to formal care could therefore be a promising novel method to improve health in inactive older adults to a successful long-term physical activity intervention. Methods: We evaluated the effects of linking a peer coach physical activity intervention in Leiden, The Netherlands to primary care through an exercise referral scheme from July 2018 to April 2020. Primary care practices in the neighborhoods of three existing peer coach physical activity groups were invited to refer patients to the exercise groups. Referrals were registered at the primary care practice and participation in the peer coach groups was registered by the peer coaches of the exercise groups. Results: During the study, a total of 106 patients were referred to the peer coach groups. 5.7% of patients participated at the peer coach groups and 66.7% remained participating during the 1 year follow up. The number needed to refer for 1 long term participant was 26.5. The mean frequency of participation of the referred participants was 1.2 times a week. Conclusion: Linking a peer coach physical activity intervention for older adults to a primary care referral scheme reached only a small fraction of the estimated target population. However, of the people that came to the peer coach intervention a large portion continued to participate during the entire study period. The number needed to refer to engage one older person in long term physical activity was similar to other referral schemes for lifestyle interventions. The potential benefits could be regarded proportional to the small effort needed to refer. Show less
Fosse, N.A. du; Lashley, E.E.L.O.; Beelen, E. van; Meuleman, T.; Cessie, S. le; Lith, J.M.M. van; ... ; Hoorn, M.L.P. van der 2021
Background: Seminal plasma contains a wide range of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors. Part of these signalling molecules assist in inducing a state of active maternal immune tolerance... Show moreBackground: Seminal plasma contains a wide range of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors. Part of these signalling molecules assist in inducing a state of active maternal immune tolerance towards the fetus. Disbalances in seminal plasma content may contribute to pregnancy loss. This study investigated cytokine expression profiles in seminal plasma of male partners of couples with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and the association with clinical and lifestyle characteristics, including smoking, alcohol consumption and body mass index (BMI). Methods: In the seminal plasma of 52 men who visited a specialised RPL clinic the levels of 25 pre-selected cytokines, chemokines and growth factors were measured by Bio-Plex assay or ELISA. Two-way hierarchical cluster analysis was performed. Identified patient clusters were compared on clinical and lifestyle characteristics. Results: Two distinct cytokine expression profiles in the seminal plasma were revealed by cluster analysis. Patient cluster I showed relatively higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-18 and TNF-alpha, compared to Patient cluster II. Men belonging to Patient cluster I were significantly older and had significantly more lifestyle risk factors compared to men in Patient cluster II. Conclusion: Cluster analysis suggested the existence of a less favourable pro-inflammatory cytokine expression profile, being present in part of men affected by RPL and associated with advanced male age and lifestyle risk factors. These findings may serve as a starting point for further research into underlying mechanisms and ultimately lead to novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for couples with RPL. Show less
Background: Depression has been associated with decreased regional grey matter volume, which might partly be explained by an unhealthier lifestyle in depressed individuals which has been ignored by... Show moreBackground: Depression has been associated with decreased regional grey matter volume, which might partly be explained by an unhealthier lifestyle in depressed individuals which has been ignored by most earlier studies. Also, the longitudinal nature of depression, lifestyle and brain structure associations is largely unknown. This study investigates the relationship of depression and lifestyle with brain structure cross-sectionally and longitudinally over up to 9 years.Methods: We used longitudinal structural MRI data of persons with depression and/or anxiety disorders and controls (N-unique participants = 347, N-observations = 609). Cortical thickness of medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC), rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) and hippocampal volume were derived using FreeSurfer. Using Generalized Estimating Equations, we investigated associations of depression and lifestyle (Body mass index (BMI), smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity and sleep duration) with brain structure and change in brain structure over 2 (n = 179) and 9 years (n = 82).Results: Depression status (B =-.053, p = .002) and severity (B =-.002, p = .002) were negatively associated with rACC thickness. mOFC thickness was negatively associated with BMI (B =-.004, p < .001) and positively with moderate alcohol consumption (B = .030, p = .009). All associations were independent of each other. No associations were observed between (change in) depression, disease burden or lifestyle factors with brain change over time.Conclusions: Depressive symptoms and diagnosis were independently associated with thinner rACC, BMI with thinner mOFC, and moderate alcohol consumption with thicker mOFC. No longitudinal associations were observed, suggesting that regional grey matter alterations are a long-term consequence or vulnerability indicator for depression but not dynamically or progressively related to depression course trajectory. Show less
Breeman, L.D.; Keesman, M.; Atsma, D.E.; Chavannes, N.H.; Janssen, V.; Gemert-Pijnen, L. van; ... ; BENEFIT Consortium 2021
Background: Healthy living is key in the prevention and rehabilitation of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Yet, supporting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is exceptionally difficult and people... Show moreBackground: Healthy living is key in the prevention and rehabilitation of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Yet, supporting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is exceptionally difficult and people differ in their needs regarding optimal support for healthy lifestyle interventions.Objective: The goals of this study were threefold: to uncover stakeholders' needs and preferences, to translate these to core values, and develop eHealth technology based on these core values. Our primary research question is: What type of eHealth application to support healthy living among people with (a high risk of) CVD would provide the greatest benefit for all stakeholders? Methods: User-centered design principles from the CeHRes roadmap for eHealth development were followed to guide the uncovering of important stakeholder values. Data were synthesized from various qualitative studies (i. e., literature studies, interviews, think-aloud sessions, focus groups) and usability tests (i.e., heuristic evaluation, cognitive walkthrough, think aloud study). We also developed an innovative application evaluation tool to perform a competitor analysis on 33 eHealth applications. Finally, to make sure to take into account all end-users needs and preferences in eHealth technology development, we created personas and a customer journey.Results: We uncovered 10 universal values to which eHealth-based initiatives to support healthy living in the context of CVD prevention and rehabilitation should adhere to (e.g., providing social support, stimulating intrinsic motivation, offering continuity of care). These values were translated to 14 desired core attributes and then prototype designs. Interestingly, we found that the primary attribute of good eHealth technology was not a single intervention principle, but rather that the technology should be in the form of a digital platform disseminating various interventions, i.e., a 'one-stop-shop'.Conclusion: Various stakeholders in the field of cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation may benefit most from utilizing one personalized eHealth platform that integrates a variety of evidence-based interventions, rather than a new tool. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, this digital platform should aid the matchmaking between patients and specific interventions based on personal characteristics and preferences. Show less
In this thesis, we focussed on the management of obese patients with asthma. Based on the available knowledge about the obesity and asthma relationship, and the effects of different weight loss... Show moreIn this thesis, we focussed on the management of obese patients with asthma. Based on the available knowledge about the obesity and asthma relationship, and the effects of different weight loss interventions in obese asthmatics, we defined the following aimsfor this thesis:1. To gain insight in the effects of exercise training in obese asthmatics and to determine the feasibility and effects of high intensity training in obese subjects2. To design a pulmonary rehabilitation program for obese patients with suboptimalcontrolled asthma and to determine the effectiveness of this program in a randomized controlled trial3. To improve our knowledge on the pathophysiology of obesity related asthma4. To gain insight in the risks and long-term effects of bariatric surgery in morbidlyobese subjects with asthma. Show less
Cardiovascular disease and diabetes are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Multiple genetic and non-genetic factors play a role in this process. This dissertation aims to study the... Show moreCardiovascular disease and diabetes are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Multiple genetic and non-genetic factors play a role in this process. This dissertation aims to study the interplay between genetic factors and lifestyle factors (eg sleep, nutrition, physical activity) with diseases such as cardiovascular disease and risk factors for cardiovascular disease (diabetes). For example, 12 blood biomarkers associated with insulin resistance have been identified, 5 of which are specifically much higher in subjects with diabetes. In addition, it appeared that a short sleep duration and poor sleep quality are associated with poorer lipids in the blood (eg cholesterol and LDL) and more insulin resistance. With regard to sleep, 59 new genetic variants have also been identified with regard to blood lipids (HDL, LDL, triglycerides). In addition, the results indicate that a better lifestyle can also help reduce the development of new cardiovascular diseases in people with an increased genetic risk. This is particularly interesting to prevent diseases in persons at high risk. All in all, this thesis has provided new insights into the various factors that are potentially important in the development of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Show less
Brouwer, J.G.M.; Snellen, M.; Bisseling, T.M.; Koornstra, J.J.; Vasen, H.F.A.; Kampman, E.; Duijnhoven, F.J.B. van 2020
A cancer diagnosis is suggested to be associated with changes in dietary and lifestyle habits. Whether this applies to persons with familial cancer, such as Lynch syndrome (LS) is unknown. We... Show moreA cancer diagnosis is suggested to be associated with changes in dietary and lifestyle habits. Whether this applies to persons with familial cancer, such as Lynch syndrome (LS) is unknown. We investigated whether a colorectal neoplasm (CRN) diagnosis in persons with LS is associated with changes in dietary and lifestyle habits over time. We used data of confirmed LS mutation carriers from the GEOLynch study, a prospective cohort study. Information on dietary intake and lifestyle habits was collected with a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and a general questionnaire administered at baseline (2006-2008) and follow-up (2012-2017). Participants' medical records were used to identify CRN diagnoses. Changes in dietary and lifestyle habits in the CRN and the no-CRN group were compared using multivariable linear regression models for continuous variables and cross-tables with percentage change at follow-up compared with baseline for categorical variables. Of the 324 included participants, 146 developed a CRN (CRN group) between baseline and follow-up, while 178 did not (no-CRN group). Smoking cessation was more often reported in the CRN than in the no-CRN group (41.4% vs. 35.0%). There were no differences in changes of energy intake, alcohol, red meat, processed meat, dairy, fruit, vegetables and dietary fiber consumption, BMI, physical activity and NSAID use. Apart from a potentially higher likelihood of smoking cessation, we found little evidence that a CRN diagnosis is associated with changes in lifestyle habits in persons with LS. Show less
Background: The Nature Step to Respiratory Health was the overarching theme of the 12th General Meeting of the Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD) in Helsinki, August 2018.... Show moreBackground: The Nature Step to Respiratory Health was the overarching theme of the 12th General Meeting of the Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD) in Helsinki, August 2018. New approaches are needed to improve respiratory health and reduce premature mortality of chronic diseases by 30% till 2030 (UN Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs). Planetary health is defined as the health of human civilization and the state of the natural systems on which it depends. Planetary health and human health are interconnected, and both need to be considered by individuals and governments while addressing several SDGs.Results: The concept of the Nature Step has evolved from innovative research indicating, how changed lifestyle in urban surroundings reduces contact with biodiverse environments, impoverishes microbiota, affects immune regulation and increases risk of NCDs. The Nature Step calls for strengthening connections to nature. Physical activity in natural environments should be promoted, use of fresh vegetables, fruits and water increased, and consumption of sugary drinks, tobacco and alcohol restricted. Nature relatedness should be part of everyday life and especially emphasized in the care of children and the elderly. Taking "nature" to modern cities in a controlled way is possible but a challenge for urban planning, nature conservation, housing, traffic arrangements, energy production, and importantly for supplying and distributing food. Actions against the well-known respiratory risk factors, air pollution and smoking, should be taken simultaneously.Conclusions: In Finland and elsewhere in Europe, successful programmes have been implemented to reduce the burden of respiratory disorders and other NCDs. Unhealthy behaviour can be changed by well-coordinated actions involving all stakeholders. The growing public health concern caused by NCDs in urban surroundings cannot be solved by health care alone; a multidisciplinary approach is mandatory. Show less
Background: A considerable body of evidence accumulated especially during the last decade, demonstrating that early nutrition and lifestyle have long-term effects on later health and disease (... Show moreBackground: A considerable body of evidence accumulated especially during the last decade, demonstrating that early nutrition and lifestyle have long-term effects on later health and disease ("developmental or metabolic programming"). Methods: Researchers involved in the European Union funded international EarlyNutrition research project consolidated the scientific evidence base and existing recommendations to formulate consensus recommendations on nutrition and lifestyle before and during pregnancy, during infancy and early childhood that take long-term health impact into account. Systematic reviews were performed on published dietary guidelines, standards and recommendations, with special attention to long-term health consequences. In addition, systematic reviews of published systematic reviews on nutritional interventions or exposures in pregnancy and in infants and young children aged up to 3 years that describe effects on subsequent overweight, obesity and body composition were performed. Experts developed consensus recommendations incorporating the wide-ranging expertise from additional 33 stakeholders. Findings: Most current recommendations for pregnant women, particularly obese women, and for young children do not take long-term health consequences of early nutrition into account, although the available evidence for relevant consequences of lifestyle, diet and growth patterns in early life on later health and disease risk is strong. Interpretation: We present updated recommendations for optimized nutrition before and during pregnancy, during lactation, infancy and toddlerhood, with special reference to later health outcomes. These recommendations are developed for affluent populations, such as women and children in Europe, and should contribute to the primary prevention of obesity and associated non-communicable diseases. (c) 2019 S. Karger AG, Basel Show less
In this thesis, senescence is measured in human populations according to its definition of an increase in the risks of dysfunction, disease, and death with chronological age. Part I of this thesis... Show moreIn this thesis, senescence is measured in human populations according to its definition of an increase in the risks of dysfunction, disease, and death with chronological age. Part I of this thesis investigates how a population__s senescence rate can be measured through the increase in mortality rate with age. Part II of this thesis investigates how senescence can be measured through the increase in morbidity - with a focus on cardiovascular disease - in a non-western population and thus be compared with the senescence process in western populations. Show less
Vlaar, E.M.A.; Nierkens, V.; Nicolaou, M.; Middelkoop, B.J.C.; Stronks, K.; Valkengoed, I.G.M. van 2015
Background: In western societies, atrial fibrillation is an increasingly common finding among the elderly. Established risk factors of atrial fibrillation include obesity, diabetes, hypertension,... Show moreBackground: In western societies, atrial fibrillation is an increasingly common finding among the elderly. Established risk factors of atrial fibrillation include obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Atrial fibrillation has almost exclusively been studied in western populations where these risk factors are widely present. Therefore, we studied the epidemiology of atrial fibrillation in a traditional African community. Methods: In rural Ghana, among 924 individuals aged 50 years and older, we recorded electrocardiograms to detect atrial fibrillation. As established risk factors, we documented waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), capillary glucose level, blood pressure, and electrocardiographic myocardial infarction. In addition, we determined circulating levels of interleukin-6 (IL6), a proinflammatory cytokine, and C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation. We compared the risk factors with reference data from the USA. Results: Atrial fibrillation was detected in only three cases, equalling 0.3% (95% CI 0.1–1.0%). Waist circumference, BMI, and capillary glucose levels were very low. Hypertension and myocardial infarction were uncommon. Circulating levels of IL6 were similar, but those of CRP were lower compared with the USA. Conclusion: Atrial fibrillation is very scarce in this traditional African community. Its low prevalence compared with western societies can be explained by the rareness of its established risk factors, which are closely related to lifestyle, and by possible unmeasured differences in other risk factors or genetic factors. Show less
Background As maintenance of lifestyle change and risk factor modification following completion of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has been shown to be notoriously difficult, we developed a brief self... Show moreBackground As maintenance of lifestyle change and risk factor modification following completion of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has been shown to be notoriously difficult, we developed a brief self-regulation lifestyle program for post-CR patients. Design Randomized-controlled trial. Method Following completion of CR 210 patients were randomized to receive either a lifestyle maintenance program (n=112) or standard care (n=98). The program was based on self-regulation principles and consisted of a motivational interview, 7 group sessions and home assignments. Risk factors and health behaviors were assessed at baseline (end of CR), and 6 and 15 months thereafter. Results ANCOVAs showed a significant effect of the lifestyle program after 6 months on blood pressure, waist circumference and exercise behavior, only the latter of which remained significant at follow-up (15 months). Mediation analysis demonstrated that the treatment effect on exercise behavior could be explained by an effect on self-regulation skills. Furthermore, the lifestyle intervention program was associated with a 12% reduction in self-reported cardiac hospital admission rates. In addition, patients in the intervention group had significantly fewer uncontrolled risk factors as compared to the control group. However, there was only a long-term beneficial intervention effect on obesity and physical inactivity, but not on other individual risk factors (increased waist circumference, raised blood pressure, raised TC/HDLC-ratio and smoking). Conclusion This trial indicates that a relatively brief, theory-based lifestyle program is capable of inciting and maintaining improvements in exercise adherence. It is suggested that patients may need ongoing attention and guidance, for example in the form of (internet-based) booster sessions, as long-term consolidation of changes is arduous. Show less
