The European EXIT-CVD consortium is launching a five-year research programme into cardiovascular disease. 42 public and private partners from 17 countries are conducting 22 clinical trials involving more than 14,000 patients. The first patients will begin taking part in the research this month. The project aims to prevent or slow down deterioration in heart patients by detecting disease earlier, personalising treatments and developing interventions for different stages of the cardiovascular care pathway across Europe.
More than 60 million people in the European Union are living with cardiovascular disease. According to the EXIT-CVD consortium, without early detection, timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment, these conditions can gradually progress from risk factors to a confirmed diagnosis and ultimately to cardiovascular events. EXIT-CVD therefore aims to intervene at three stages in the disease process: before the disease develops, during its development, and when the condition is advanced.
Three stages
The first stage, ‘early exit’, focuses on disease prevention and early detection. Digital monitoring plays a key role here. ‘Mid exit’ emphasises slowing the progression of the disease. Researchers are looking, amongst other things, at personalised risk assessment and targeted interventions. ‘Late exit’ focuses on patients with advanced disease. Advanced therapies are intended to support recovery and help prevent further deterioration.
The approach combines diagnostics, digital tools and therapeutic applications. The consortium aims to develop strategies based on scientific evidence that can be applied across different European healthcare systems.
22 clinical trials
The first of the 22 clinical trials is set to begin this month. In total, more than 14,000 patients will be involved in the research.
The CARDIO-CAM study is investigating a video-based monitoring system in hospital. The system continuously records cardiorespiratory signals and relevant clinical context.
The LEADER-PAD study focuses on spectral CT for early detection, risk stratification and personalised care pathways. It will examine asymptomatic patients and those with symptoms who are at low risk.
The REMODEL-HF study investigates the remote monitoring of patients with heart failure. This is a multinational, randomised study involving patients who have recently been admitted to hospital for heart failure. The study aims to determine whether this approach can improve outcomes and optimise treatment in accordance with current guidelines.
The GUIDANCE-PCCT study is investigating PCI procedures guided by photon-counting CT. The results are being compared with PCI procedures performed using standard angiography.
The NOTIFY-2 study is investigating AI-driven algorithms for image and ECG analysis in infiltrative cardiomyopathies. The aim is to improve the early diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy and to better assess the risk of underlying conditions.
Making technology more accessible
Within EXIT-CVD, attention is also being paid to disparities in access to care and technology. According to the consortium, new diagnostic tools and digital resources often reach affluent population groups first. As a result, disparities in access and health outcomes may widen further.
The project therefore aims to apply principles from implementation science and ‘equity-by-design’. The solutions must be scalable, sustainable and accessible to relevant population groups, including those that have historically had insufficient access to healthcare. A digital data platform that complies with the FAIR principles and aligns with the European Health Data Space (EHDS) is intended to support the integration and evaluation of these innovations. It must also contribute to their application in everyday practice.
42 partners from 17 countries
EXIT-CVD is a public-private partnership comprising 42 partners from 17 countries. The consortium is led by the University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG) and Philips. The project involves clinical and academic institutions, technology and pharmaceutical companies, healthcare consultants, a patient organisation and the European Society of Cardiology.
The Netherlands is represented by, amongst others, UMC Utrecht, UMC Groningen and Eindhoven University of Technology. The international partners include organisations from Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom and Finland.
Industrial partners include Philips, GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers, Medtronic, Huawei, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Sanofi and Johnson & Johnson MedTech Heart Recovery. The project has a total budget of 27.6 million euros and is co-funded by the European Union’s Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) and industrial partners.
COMBINE-CT project
The use of AI and advanced imaging in cardiovascular care is also the subject of the European COMBINE-CT project, which we wrote about at the end of August. This project combines CT imaging, AI and interventional techniques and clinically validates them for an integrated care pathway for patients with coronary artery disease. Like EXIT-CVD, the project is co-funded by the European Union’s Innovative Health Initiative.
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