Get the latest insights across all core specialities in cardiology at EuroHeartCare – ACNAP Congress 2021, an online scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
The annual meeting of the Association of Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professions (ACNAP), a branch of the ESC, takes place 18 and 19 June online. Explore the scientific programme.
Novel findings will be presented on numerous topics. Among them: associations between physical activity and quality of life in patients with coronary heart disease, sexual satisfaction and well-being after heart transplantation, and tai chi as an intervention in stroke survivors. Other highlights: interactions between heart conditions and COVID-19, effective weight loss strategies, and the effect of loneliness on lifestyle modification in heart patients.
Stay tuned for live and on-demand sessions covering contemporary issues in cardiovascular disease. Including digital transformation of patient education with virtual reality headsets, avatars, and more. “Immersive technologies have brought patient education into a new era which overcomes many of the health literacy challenges of the traditional booklet,” said Dr. Jennifer Jones, scientific chair. “We will hear cutting edge research and how it’s being applied in everyday practice to help patients better understand and manage their heart condition.”
Listen to the experts reveal their top tips on supporting behaviour change and motivating patients to maintain self-care. Dr. Jones said: “Many medical professionals slip into the ‘expert role’ providing patients with information and advice on what to do rather than enabling behaviour change. How to effectively get to a change-based relationship will be a central feature.”
Taking daily medications is a challenge for many patients. Hear how self-administered injectables could be the answer for some drugs. “We’re in an exciting time for preventing and controlling cardiovascular conditions by combining healthy lifestyles with pharmacology,” said Dr. Jones. “Injectable medications offer the potential for less cumbersome self-management since they remove the need for daily pill-taking and could be a real game-changer for adherence.”
Get up-to-the-minute information on the implications of COVID-19 for cardiovascular care – from the perspective of patients and healthcare professionals. Dr. Jones said: “There is a very strong COVID-19 theme throughout the conference – for example using virtual clinics, telemedicine and wearable sensors to maintain good cardiovascular care during a time of limited face-to-face interaction. We will discuss the controversies and innovations that have emerged during the pandemic plus common questions asked by patients with heart conditions and risk factors including diabetes and obesity.”
Women’s hearts matter: a session that will challenge the belief that men are more at risk of heart disease than women. Plus a personal story of the struggle some women face to have symptoms like chest pain taken seriously. “There is a lot of underdiagnosis in women,” said Dr. Jones. “In addition, women themselves generally underestimate their risk of developing a heart condition.”
Also on the agenda: advice on diet and exercise for people living with specific heart conditions. “This session brings together experts to answer many of the questions patients ask about what activities they can safely do and the best diet to follow in their situation,” said Dr. Jones.
New frontiers in hypertension will be explored in a dedicated session featuring global leaders in the field. Including new perspectives on high blood pressure in children and adolescents. Dr. Jones said: “Hypertension is a driver of heart attacks and strokes, but many people do not know they are affected because they have no symptoms. That includes young people, where we are also seeing rising levels of obesity and sedentary lifestyles. Across all age groups there are opportunities for prevention and better management of high blood pressure.”
Register as Press now for EuroHeartCare – ACNAP Congress 2021, the only conference in Europe bringing together cardiology nurses and allied professionals.
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