For better health
For better health
Over 1.9 million people in the Netherlands have cardiometabolic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney damage, obesity and dyslipidaemia. People are also increasingly living longer with these diseases. Good nutrition is useful in addition to regular treatment and medication. Healthy nutrition is associated with a 30% lower long-term mortality risk (data Alpha Omega Cohort). In addition, it contributes to the vitality and quality of life of the patient. Nevertheless, nutritional advice still has a limited role in healthcare (Kennissynthese, ZonMW 2017) . This line of research is committed to embedding nutrition and lifestyle in the treatment of cardiometabolic diseases through personal nutritional advice.
Cardiometabolic diseases often occur together. Appropriate care with attention to nutrition requires cooperation in a comprehensive chain of prevention and care. Doctors and other healthcare providers can be ambassadors when it comes to healthy living. Good communication with the patient about nutrition and lifestyle and between healthcare providers is essential. In this line of research, prof. dr. Marianne Geleijnse, professor of nutrition and cardiovascular disease of Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and her team are working together with healthcare professionals from Gelderse Vallei Hospital (GVH), Rijnstate (including the Rijnstate Vascular Center), UMC Utrecht UMCU) and the regional primary care network.
Thanks to the combination of observational and qualitative research, together with intervention and implementation studies, attention is paid to both the development of scientific evidence and the application of nutritional knowledge in healthcare. For example, self management and nutritional screening tool Eetscore is now being used in the care of GVH. In addition, we encourage a broader application of the knowledge by integrating it into guidelines, care standards and education. We are also working on the development of the e-learning Nutrition & Cardiometabolic Diseases for Medical Professionals, which will provide insight into the role of nutrition in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic diseases.
With the Voed Je Beter approach, we are working with partners to meet the goals of the National Prevention Agreement. Specifically, we are developing more knowledge about nutritional advice for people with chronic diseases and how we can integrate this advise in treatment. We also obtain more insight in how to encourage people to eat better. The Voed Je Beter approach defines four building blocks for better nutritional care of cardiometabolic diseases:
1. Guidelines for a healthy diet from the Health Council
2. Securing those into the care process
3. Person-centred approach
4. Implementation in medical guidelines
The various Voed Je Beter projects focus on the application of nutritional advice in cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes and chronic kidney damage. The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport supports the use of nutritional measures for prevention in various projects through the National Prevention Agreement. The Regio Deal Foodvalley program strengthens our research with WUR, UMC Utrecht, GVH and Rijnstate and the implementation of best practices in nutritional care. Together with partners in the Foodvalley Prevention Coalition, such as Ede Christian University of Applied Sciences (CHE) and Huisartsen Gelderse Vallei (HAGV, for general practiotioners), we indicate the ways in which lifestyle is being integrated in care pathways. Read more about the various projects via the tabs.
Gerda Pot, program coordinator Nutrition and Healthcare Alliance (NHCA)
Among others: professor Marianne Geleijnse (WUR), internist-vascular physician Remy Bemelmans (GVH), internist-vascular physician Marcel Hovens (Rijnstate), internist Rik Heijligenberg (GVH), professor Frank Visseren (UMCU), project employee Anne Slotegraaf (NHCA), assistant professor Bob Mulder (WUR), PhD candidate Ilse Evers (WUR), PhD candidate Esther Cruijsen (WUR), dietician Tessa de Smit (ZGV), cardiologist Tom van Loenhout (GVH /Rijnstate and chair NHCA), PhD candidate Nadia Bonekamp (UMCU), PhD candidate Lukas Hoes (UCMU), project officer Bo Saals (NHCA, post-doc researcher Lotte Koopal (UMCU), Renate Winkels, assistant professor (WUR and board member NHCA)
