Safeguarding continuing cardiovascular research excellence and quality publications in France: A working document from the French Society of Cardiology

International audienceBackground : France has a long history of successful cardiovascular research and scientific innovations, but its continued success cannot be taken for granted.Aims : To identify current obstacles to cardiovascular research in France and to crystallize the analysis into recommendations for maintained and enhanced research excellence in the future.Methods : The French Society of Cardiology set up seven Working Groups, each comprising four to eight cardiologists, covering a spectrum of research institutes, hospitals, specialties, ages and research experience. The Working Groups met regularly in person or by conference call to analyse experiences, refine situation assessments and formulate recommendations for improvements. Results and suggestions were presented to a Core Team, which worked to synthesize, prioritize and organize the findings into a consolidated situation assessment and generate a set of action-orientated recommendations.Results : Four key areas of action were identified: stronger focus on the generation of high-quality data; facilitation of future cardiovascular research; greater promotion and support for research among young cardiologists; and increased focus and support for communications. Most recommendations targeted structural shortcomings and may be implemented at low additional financial cost.Conclusions : It is possible to maintain, and even increase, the quality of cardiovascular research in France and to boost the conversion of successful projects into high-impact publications, without major increases in funding. Intense collaboration between specialties and organizations is necessary to achieve sustainable results

Influence of centre expertise on the diagnosis and management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy A study from the French register of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (REMY)

International audienceBackground - Our knowledge of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) mainly originates from quarternary centres. The objective is to assess the current management of HCM patients in a large multicentre French register according to the level of expertise. Methods and results - A total of 1431 HCM patients were recruited across 26 (11 expert and 15 non-expert) centres in REMY, a prospective hospital-based register of adult HCM patients. A sarcomeric origin was suspected in 1284 (89.7%) patients [261 (20.3%) with a reported gene mutation, 242 (18.8%) genotype-negative], while 107 (7.5%) had a diagnosis of non-sarcomeric HCM. Patients managed in non-expert centres were older (P < 0.01) and presented more often with NYHA III/IV class dyspnoea (P < 0.01), congestive heart failure (P < 0.01), low LEVF (P < 0.01), less often with a syncope history (P < 0.01) and lower LV obstruction (P < 0.01) than patients in expert centres. Genotype positive sarcomeric aetiologies were less frequent in non-expert centres (P < 0.01). The use of diagnostic and prognostic tests as cardiac MRI (P < 0.001), genetic (P < 0.001) and alpha-galactosidase A enzyme level testing (P < 0.001), Holter ECG (P < 0.001), and exercise test (P < 0.001), was lower in non-expert centres. Septal ablation procedures using alcohol (P < 0.001) or myectomy (P < 0.001) were more frequent in expert centres. Conclusion - In real life practice, only a minority of HCM patients are identified as sarcomere positive as per genetic testing. The management of HCM patients varies according to the centre's level of expertise, with less access to diagnostic and prognostic tests in non-expert centres. Non-sarcomeric HCM may therefore be overlooked despite specific treatment in some aetiologies