EHRA 2025 Scientific Congress
We are thrilled to share that the Departments of Cardiology and Physiology at the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM) had a remarkable presence at the recent EHRA 2025 Scientific Congress in Vienna. Our team was proudly represented by two finalists at the eCardiology Award Session – the winner Minsic Cai and 2nd runner-up Konstanze Betz- as well as Dr. Elisa D’Alessandro as finalist and runner-up for the Young Investigator Award – Basic and Translational Science.
These incredible accomplishments highlight the dedication and innovation of our researchers in advancing cardiovascular science. Congratulations to all the finalists, and here's to even more success in the future!
Minsi Cai – Winner eCardiology Award Session
Balancing the benefits and harms from atrial fibrillation screening: insights from a novel patient-level computational model
The framework of our patient-level model includes two parallel Markov-like models, one with 7 clinical states (sinus rhythm, symptomatic/asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) each with/without stroke and death) and one with 2 states (non-bleeding and major bleeding).
Our model can capture the AF incidence and dynamic progression individually and have nicely reproduced multiple population-/episode-level AF metrics and clinical outcomes in the virtual population.
Systematic AF screening and screening-triggered oral anticoagulation therapy might cause minor long-term stroke reduction, but more strongly promote the early-onset major bleeding events in the unselected virtual population. Future work will focus on the identification of subgroups who may truly benefit from the systematic AF screening.
Dr.med Konstanze Betz – 2nd Runner-up eCardiology Award Session
Virtual sleep disordered-breathing management in the work-up of patients with atrial fibrillation: treatment initiation and trajectory within the Virtual-SAFARI study.
Sleep disordered-breathing (SDB) – including obstructive sleep apnoea – is highly prevalent in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Undiagnosed and untreated, it can have a negative impact on AF rate and rhythm control strategies. We implemented a virtual SDB management pathway into the workup of patients scheduled for AF ablation (Virtual –SAFARI) in two AF outpatient clinics. Patients were virtually referred to a sleep laboratory, and were screened for SDB by an overnight wearable home-sleep apnoea test. Nearly half of consecutive patients scheduled for AF ablation were newly diagnosed with moderate-to-severe SDB (49.5% of patients). This diagnoses triggered the initiation of new SDB treatments, inclding positive airway pressure, mandibular repositioning appliances and sleep position training in a majority of patients with moderate-to-severe SDB. Future research is necessary to highlight the impact of SDB treatment on AF outcomes after ablation.
Dr. Elisa d’Alessandro – Runner-up Young Investigator Award Basic and Translational Science
Rivaroxaban treatment prevents atrial myocyte hypertrophy in goats with persistent atrial fibrillation by inhibition of protease activated receptor 1
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of stroke and a hypercoagulable state. Coagulation factors contribute to structural remodeling through protease-activated receptors (PARs) in various organs. In a goat model of persistent AF, we demonstrate for the first time that anticoagulation therapy with Rivaroxaban protects against AF-related myocyte hypertrophy, likely by inhibiting thrombin generation and reducing PAR-1 activation. This study confirms the role of activated coagulation factors and PAR signaling in the pathophysiology of AF-related structural remodeling, highlighting the potential of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in preventing the development of the AF substrate.
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