HATICE, page 3 of 6

Over 2 years ago, the HATICE trial started recruitment of older people (>=65 years) at increased risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia. Participants randomized to the intervention group have access to an interactive internet platform, stimulating self-management of vascular risk factors, with remote support by a coach. Participants in the control group have access to a static internet platform with basic health information. We will assess the impact of the intervention on the cardiovascular risk profile and the risk of cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. In September 2016, the last of a total of 2725 participants was recruited for the HATICE trial. Baseline data collection is very complete with less than 1% missing values.

The 12 months and final (18 months) assessments are going very smoothly. According to schedule, by 15 April in total 1764 (65%) participants have finished the 12 months assessment and 673 (25%) participants also finished the final assessment. In total 194 participants (7%) have dropped out, of whom 10 (5%) were retrieved at the final visit. Of the intervention participants, 70% is a regular and persistent user of the platform (>1 time a month). The assessments will be finished in December 2017 and the results will be published in a peer reviewed international journal.

Intensive treatment of cardiovascular risk factors had no significant preventive effect on dementia in the preDIVA study (‘Prevention of Dementia by Intensive Vascular Care’): the first investigation on intensive vascular care and dementia prevention.

For the preDIVA study 3526 Dutch men and women aged 70-78 years were randomized to either intensive vascular care or standard care. The intervention comprised of four-monthly visits to a practice nurse in the GP practice, over a period of six years (18 visits). During these visits, cardiovascular risk factors were scrutinized: smoking habits, diet, physical activity, weight, and blood pressure. Blood glucose and lipids were assessed every two years and when indicated otherwise. Based on these assessments, individually tailored lifestyle advice was given according to a detailed protocol conform prevailing Dutch GP-guidelines on cardiovascular risk management and supported by motivational interviewing techniques. If indicated, drug treatment of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was initiated or optimised.

During a follow-up of 6-8 years, dementia developed in 233 participants. The incidence of dementia was 8% lower in the intervention group than in the control group, though this difference was not significant. The protective effect of the intensive vascular care was bigger in those compliant to the treatment, and in the group with hypertension and not using antihypertensive medication at baseline.
The modest result may be due to primary care settings already providing high standards of cardiovascular risk management (CVRM) in the Netherlands, making it difficult to improve overall efficacy, especially for secondary cardiovascular prevention. Multi-domain interventions to prevent dementia might have a larger impact in low and middle income countries because of the lower standards of care and given the projected increase in hypertension, incident cardiovascular disease and dementia in these settings. Especially if vascular care is started at a younger age, in people with a high dementia risk and with extra attention to compliance.

Principal investigator Van Gool concludes: “Knowledge on dementia prevention goes with baby-steps. This study shows that there is no magical bullet. But it also gave us concrete clues which people to target to prevent dementia.”

The results of the preDIVA study were published in the LANCET. As part of the HATICE project, the preDIVA data are pooled with 2 other large dementia prevention trials.