Over a million euros in support against cardiovascular disease

Early detection of cardiovascular risks is one of the actions aimed at avoiding irreversible complications in adulthood. The Fondation Cœur - Daniel Wagner has therefore supported Luxembourg's first paediatric screening initiative for familial hypercholesterolaemia in public primary schools in Luxembourg City.

This pilot project, carried out from 2022-2023 by the Kannerklinik of the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, has made it possible to set up a system for detecting these early cases, by means of blood tests followed by interviews with the families concerned, in order to improve the management of hypercholesterolaemia in Luxembourg. This prevention effort is essential to limit early heart damage caused by familial hypercholesterolaemia.

In terms of prevention, awareness-raising and training initiatives are also funded by the Fondation Cœur - Daniel Wagner. Working with the Ministry of Education, the Foundation supports the ‘Réagis.lu’ project run by the Luxembourg Resuscitation Council (LRC), which has already trained more than 9,000 pupils and 200 teachers in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. For this project, the Fondation Cœur financed educational learning kits. By training the youngest children and, indirectly, their families in essential first aid techniques, everyone can learn the right reflexes in the event of cardiac arrest.

The Cœur Foundation also supports Luxembourgish researchers (PhD students, post-docs) who wish to train in internationally recognized centers of research excellence. The foundation can fund research stays lasting several months, or provide financial support for research activities carried out in a hospital setting.

The Cœur Foundation is currently funding a pilot rehabilitation project at the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of an innovative method for remotely monitoring patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation.

The project seeks to determine whether tele-rehabilitation via videoconferencing, using sensors that allow for online monitoring of heart rate and blood pressure, can be considered equivalent to traditional in-person rehabilitation. The goal is to increase patients’ autonomy at home and help them avoid unnecessary travel.

In terms of contributing to cardiovascular research, the Cœur Foundation supports both clinical studies and fundamental research projects. Since 2019, the Foundation has been financing the creation of a national database to identify, understand, and monitor sudden cardiac events (SCE) among athletes in Luxembourg. Developed in collaboration with Dr. Cabri, Dr. Besenius, and the Luxembourg Institute of Research in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine and Science, this registry allows for the recording and analysis of SCE cases through improved cooperation with emergency services in Luxembourg. Early data shows that athletes who survive a sudden cardiac event are typically those who receive prompt cardiac resuscitation.

Finally, the Cœur Foundation supports Dr. Devaux of the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) in his research into new molecular methods for identifying patients at risk of developing heart failure.