Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport; Dutch Innovation Fund of Collaborative Health Insurances; and Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development.

Apathy is a frequently reported neuropsychiatric symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD), but its prevalence and clinical correlates are debated. We aimed to address these issues by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. Embase, Medline/PubMed, and PsychINFO databases were searched for relevant studies. Data were extracted by two independent observers, using predefined extraction forms tailored specifically to the research question. From 1,702 titles and abstracts, 23 studies were selected. Meta-analysis showed a prevalence of apathy in PD of 39.8% (n = 5,388, 905% CI 34.6-45.0%). Apathy was associated with higher age (3.3 years, 95% CI = 1.7-4.9), lower mean Mini-Mental State Evaluation (MMSE) score (-1.4 points, 95% CI = -2.1 to -0.8), an increased risk of co-morbid depression (relative risk [RR] = 2.3, 95% CI = 1.9-2.8), higher Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor score (6.5 points, 95% CI = 2.6-10.3), and more severe disability (Hedges-G = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.3-0.6). Half of the patients with apathy had concomitant depression (57.2%, 95% CI = 49.4-64.9%), and this estimate was similar after exclusion of patients with cognitive impairment (52.5%, 95% CI = 42.2%-62.8%). In conclusion, we found that apathy affects almost 40% of patients with PD. Several factors influence reported prevalence rates, contributing to the considerable heterogeneity in study results. Half of patients with apathy do not suffer from concomitant depression or cognitive impairment, confirming its status as a separate clinical syndrome in PD. The pervasiveness of apathy in PD warrants research into its treatment, although different underlying pathophysiological mechanisms may require different treatment strategies. Treatment of apathy could improve patient quality of life, reduce caregiver burden, alleviate disability by increasing motivation for self-care, and reduce cognitive impairment by improving executive functioning.

ObjectivesTo study older peoples’ experiences with an interactive internet platform for cardiovascular self-management, to assess which factors influence initial and sustained engagement. To assess their views on future use within primary care.DesignQualitative semistructured interview study, with thematic analysis.SettingPrimary care in the Netherlands.ParticipantsPeople ≥65 years with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease who used the ‘Healthy Ageing Through Internet Counselling in the Elderly’ internet platform with remote support of a coach. Participants were selected using a purposive sampling method based on gender, age, level of education, cardiovascular history, diabetes, duration of participation and login frequency.ResultsWe performed 17 interviews with 20 participants, including three couples. In the initial phase, platform engagement was influenced by perceived computer literacy of the participants, user-friendliness, acceptability and appropriateness of the intervention and the initial interaction with the coach. Sustained platform use was mainly facilitated by a relationship of trust with the coach. Other facilitating factors were regular automatic and personal reminders, clear expectations of the platform, incorporation into daily routine, social support and a loyal and persistent attitude. Perceived lack of change in content of the platform could work both stimulating and discouraging. Participants supported the idea of embedding the platform into the primary care setting.ConclusionsHuman support is crucial to initial and sustained engagement of older people in using an interactive internet platform for cardiovascular self-management. Regular reminders further facilitate sustained use, and increased tailoring to personal preference is recommended. Embedding the platform in primary healthcare may enhance future adoption.Trial registration numberISRCTN48151589; Pre-results.

Background Although web-based interventions have been promoted for cardiovascular risk management over the past decade, there is limited evidence for effectiveness of these interventions in people older than 65 years. The healthy ageing through internet counselling in the elderly (HATICE) trial aimed to determine whether a coach-supported internet intervention for self-management can reduce cardiovascular risk in community-dwelling older people.Methods This prospective open-label, blinded endpoint clinical trial among people age 65 years or over at increased risk of cardiovascular disease randomly assigned participants in the Netherlands, Finland, and France to an interactive internet intervention stimulating coach-supported self-management or a control platform. Primary outcome was the difference from baseline to 18 months on a standardised composite score (Z score) of systolic blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, and body-mass index (BMI). Secondary outcomes included individual risk factors and cardiovascular endpoints. This trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, 48151589, and is closed to accrual.Findings Among 2724 participants, complete primary outcome data were available for 2398 (88%). After 18 months, the primary outcome improved in the intervention group versus the control group (0·09 vs 0·04, respectively; mean difference -0·05, 95% CI -0·08 to -0·01; p=0·008). For individual components of the primary outcome, mean differences (intervention vs control) were systolic blood pressure -1·79 mm Hg versus -0·67 mm Hg (-1·12, -2·51 to 0·27); BMI -0·23 kg/m² versus -0·08 kg/m² (-0·15, -0·28 to -0·01); and LDL -0·12 mmol/L versus -0·07 mmol/L (-0·05, -0·11 to 0·01). Cardiovascular disease occurred in 30 (2·2%) of 1382 patients in the intervention versus 32 (2·4%) of 1333 patients in the control group (hazard ratio 0·86, 95% CI 0·52 to 1·43).Interpretation Coach-supported self-management of cardiovascular risk factors using an interactive internet intervention is feasible in an older population, and leads to a modest improvement of cardiovascular risk profile. When implemented on a large scale this could potentially reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease.Funding European Commission Seventh Framework Programme.

Symptoms indicative of apathy are common in community-dwelling nondemented older people who are free from depression. The independent association of stroke, other cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular risk factors with symptoms of apathy suggests a causal role of vascular factors.

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IntroductionCardiovascular disease and dementia share a number of risk factors including hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, smoking, obesity, diabetes and physical inactivity. The rise of eHealth has led to increasing opportunities for large-scale delivery of prevention programmes encouraging self-management. The aim of this study is to investigate whether a multidomain intervention to optimise self-management of cardiovascular risk factors in older individuals, delivered through an coach-supported interactive internet platform, can improve the cardiovascular risk profile and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline.Methods and analysisHATICE is a multinational, multicentre, prospective, randomised, open-label blinded end point (PROBE) trial with 18 months intervention. Recruitment of 2600 older people (≥65 years) at increased risk of cardiovascular disease will take place in the Netherlands, Finland and France. Participants randomised to the intervention condition will have access to an interactive internet platform, stimulating self-management of vascular risk factors, with remote support by a coach. Participants in the control group will have access to a static internet platform with basic health information.The primary outcome is a composite score based on the average z-score of the difference between baseline and 18 months follow-up values of systolic blood pressure, low-density-lipoprotein and body mass index. Main secondary outcomes include the effect on the individual components of the primary outcome, the effect on lifestyle-related risk factors, incident cardiovascular disease, mortality, cognitive functioning, mood and cost-effectiveness.Ethics and disseminationThe study was approved by the medical ethics committee of the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, the Comité de Protection des Personnes Sud Ouest et Outre Mer in France and the Northern Savo Hospital District Research Ethics Committee in Finland.We expect that data from this study will result in a manuscript published in a peer-reviewed clinical open access journal.Trial registration numberISRCTN48151589.

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effect of a practice-based, culturally appropriate patient education intervention on blood pressure (BP) and treatment adherence among patients of African origin with uncontrolled hypertension.MethodsCluster randomised trial involving four Dutch primary care centres and 146 patients (intervention n = 75, control n = 71), who met the following inclusion criteria: self-identified Surinamese or Ghanaian; ≥20 years; treated for hypertension; SBP≥140 mmHg. All patients received usual hypertension care. The intervention-group was also offered three nurse-led, culturally appropriate hypertension education sessions. BP was assessed with Omron 705-IT and treatment adherence with lifestyle- and medication adherence scales.Results139 patients (95%) completed the study (intervention n = 71, control n = 68). Baseline characteristics were largely similar for both groups. At six months, we observed a SBP reduction of ≥10 mmHg -primary outcome- in 48% of the intervention group and 43% of the control group. When adjusted for pre-specified covariates age, sex, hypertension duration, education, baseline measurement and clustering effect, the between-group difference was not significant (OR; 0.42; 95% CI: 0.11 to 1.54; P = 0.19). At six months, the mean SBP/DBD had dropped by 10/5.7 (SD 14.3/9.2)mmHg in the intervention group and by 6.3/1.7 (SD 13.4/8.6)mmHg in the control group. After adjustment, between-group differences in SBP and DBP reduction were −1.69 mmHg (95% CI: −6.01 to 2.62, P = 0.44) and −3.01 mmHg (−5.73 to −0.30, P = 0.03) in favour of the intervention group. Mean scores for adherence to lifestyle recommendations increased in the intervention group, but decreased in the control group. Mean medication adherence scores improved slightly in both groups. After adjustment, the between-group difference for adherence to lifestyle recommendations was 0.34 (0.12 to 0.55; P = 0.003). For medication adherence it was −0.09 (−0.65 to 0.46; P = 0.74).ConclusionThis intervention led to significant improvements in DBP and adherence to lifestyle recommendations, supporting the need for culturally appropriate hypertension care.Trial RegistrationControlled-Trials.com ISRCTN35675524