Dr. Simone Hartong is a vascular specialist at the Albert Schweitzer Hospitalin Dordrecht. The hospital recently became a LEEFH center. “I’m glad that LEEFH is helping to inform patients.”
Simone Hartong has been working as a vascular medicine specialist at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Dordrecht since 2012. Her specialty is the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, such as in people with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). “In my clinic, I see all kinds of people with cardiovascular problems,” says Simone. “People with risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and those who have already had a heart or vascular issue. I try to manage all risk factors as effectively as possible and make people aware of what they can do themselves—often through lifestyle changes. With FH, it’s a different story. Of course, a healthy lifestyle is very important here as well, but that alone isn’t enough. Medication is also essential.”
Lifelong medication
The doctor doesn’t force this on people, but discusses it with them. “Sometimes people suggest that they first try to lower their cholesterol by making lifestyle changes. I always think that’s a great idea. Then we see what the outcome is. Medication often ends up being necessary anyway, but at least they’re on board with it, and we’ve tried everything before starting. People will be taking medication for the rest of their lives, so it’s important that they’re motivated to do so.”
Collaboration
“Some people experience side effects from the medication. That’s very unpleasant. In that case, we look for an alternative. We always try one medication at a time, so we can see if it has an effect on the high cholesterol. It can sometimes take a while to find the right one, but we always work closely with the patient. How they feel is the deciding factor.”
New change
Since spring 2024, the Albert Schweitzer Hospital has been a LEEFH center. Simone Hartong is pleased about this. “I provide care for people with FH myself; I don’t have a nurse specialist to give them information or help inform family members. I’m very glad that LEEFH is taking over that task from me, so I can focus on medical care. In addition, LEEFH operates according to the latest scientific insights. Suppose a new mutation is discovered; as a LEEFH center, I’ll know about it right away. The same goes for new treatments or developments in this field.” The vascular physician also hopes to benefit from the network LEEFH offers. “Thanks to LEEFH, I can now easily find colleagues with whom I can consult. Meetings are also organized. It’s nice to be able to delve deeper into this field in that way as well.”
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