Cited 21 times since 2019 (4.6 per year) source: EuropePMC Netherlands heart journal : monthly journal of the Netherlands Society of Cardiology and the Netherlands Heart Foundation, Volume 27, Issue 10, 1 1 2019, Pages 480-486 The Netherlands Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy Registry: design and status update. Bosman LP, Verstraelen TE, van Lint FHM, Cox MGPJ, Groeneweg JA, Mast TP, van der Zwaag PA, Volders PGA, Evertz R, Wong L, de Groot NMS, Zeppenfeld K, van der Heijden JF, van den Berg MP, Wilde AAM, Asselbergs FW, Hauer RNW, Te Riele ASJM, van Tintelen JP, Netherlands ACM Registry
Background
Clinical research on arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is typically limited by small patient numbers, retrospective study designs, and inconsistent definitions.
Aim
To create a large national ACM patient cohort with a vast amount of uniformly collected high-quality data that is readily available for future research.
Methods
This is a multicentre, longitudinal, observational cohort study that includes (1) patients with a definite ACM diagnosis, (2) at-risk relatives of ACM patients, and (3) ACM-associated mutation carriers. At baseline and every follow-up visit, a medical history as well information regarding (non-)invasive tests is collected (e. g. electrocardiograms, Holter recordings, imaging and electrophysiological studies, pathology reports, etc.). Outcome data include (non-)sustained ventricular and atrial arrhythmias, heart failure, and (cardiac) death. Data are collected on a research electronic data capture (REDCap) platform in which every participating centre has its own restricted data access group, thus empowering local studies while facilitating data sharing.
Discussion
The Netherlands ACM Registry is a national observational cohort study of ACM patients and relatives. Prospective and retrospective data are obtained at multiple time points, enabling both cross-sectional and longitudinal research in a hypothesis-generating approach that extends beyond one specific research question. In so doing, this registry aims to (1) increase the scientific knowledge base on disease mechanisms, genetics, and novel diagnostic and treatment strategies of ACM; and (2) provide education for physicians and patients concerning ACM, e. g. through our website ( www.acmregistry.nl ) and patient conferences.
