euPrevent

Abstract euPrevent is a non-profit organisation and a Euroregional network that wants to promote the quality of life of citizens in the border regions of the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. Policy in the field of care and well-being is mainly organised at national level. This has a major impact on citizens in the border region who regularly cross the border for work or family reasons. We therefore focus on the establishment of sustainable, cross-border network connections between health organisations in the border region. Our cross-border cooperation is based on the following three frameworks, within we work: (1) Positive Health, (2) Health in All Policies (HiAP), and (3) Sustainable Development Goals. The network will be represented by Brigitte van der Zanden, the Director of euPrevent and a long standing expert in cross-border health issues.

The WHO European Office for Investment for Health and Development (Venice Office) works in the thematic areas of health equity, social and economic determinants of health, and investment for health in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the European Programme of Work.Within the WHO Venice Office, the the Regions for Health Network (RHN) works to place health and well-being high on the key political agendas, and advocates the needs of local and subnational authorities at the regional and international levels.RHN has been launched in 1993 to help regions to accelerate the delivery of improved population health, and currently has 34 members.It has developed over the decades into a forum that creates synergies between regions and stakeholders in the field of health (mutual learning); strengthens cooperation/collaboration between regional and local actors and international health institutions; increases understanding of the functioning of regional and local health systems; promotes the exchange of experience, and mutual learning.RHN positions itself at the forefront of innovative approaches and aims at becoming a cutting-edge network ready to capture and disseminate effective approaches, policies and strategies that improve population health at the regional level of governance.In past years, RHN has spearheaded collaborative efforts amongst cross-border regions, on different topics, and with technical guidance from WHO.These efforts have led to joint initiatives, publications, study trips, project collaboration and periodic and structured exchanges of experiences.Lower Austria is by size the biggest province of Austria and located in the heart of Europe with a 414 km long border to the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and in close proximity to Hungary.Not only through its geographic location but also through its understanding to be a connected region as part of a strong European Union, cross-border health care plays an important issue at the provincial level.Led by the European spirit, all international and cross-border health activities are bundled under the umbrella of the 'Healthacross initiative''.The initiative is part of the Health Agency of Lower Austria (N&Ouml; Landesgesundheitsagentur), which operates and manages all 27 public hospitals and around 50 care/nursing homes in the region.Via the ''Healthacross initiative'', Lower Austria is participating in four transnational networks and since 2008, conducted eight EU co-funded projects in crossborder healthcare, four of them currently running.Healthacross is the coordinator of this session, with support of WHO RHN network.Active networking in various European and international networks is part of the regional strategy of Lower Austria in order to gain excellence to improve the health and quality of life for citizens living in border regions.The premise is to enable equal access to health care services for citizens, regardless of their place of residence.The current epidemiological situation with the COVID-19 pandemic has not only impact on cross-border healthcare, but also on the life, health and well-being of citizens.With the closure of national borders, the exchange of healthcare services came to an interim halt; solely dialog remained -which was incredibly valuable for both commuters and citizens living in the border regions.Lower Austria will take care of the moderation of the session and will be represented by Julia Winkler.

Abstract
AEBR is one of the oldest regional associations in Europe (founded in 1971), with a hundred members (border and cross-border regions) in more than thirty European countries.AEBR works for the interest of border regions towards EU and national authorities, developing capacities, increasing awareness, organizing events and implementing projects.AEBR currently implements IVY (Interreg Volunteer Youth) on behalf of the European Commission's DG Regio, within the framework of the European Solidarity Corps, which has deployed more than 700 young Europeans in Interreg programmes and projects during the last four years.It also manages b-solutions to tackle cross-border legal and administrative obstacles and test possible solutions, and takes part in other projects in Europe and other continents.It has recently finished a study for DG SANTE on cross-border patients' flows in various EU cross-border areas.The association will be presented by it's Secretary General, Martin Guillermo-Ramı ´rez.

Abstract citation ID: ckac129.489 European Regional and Local Health Authorities (EUREGHA)
Michele Calabro M Calabro 1 1 European Regional and Local Health Authorities, Brussels, Belgium Contact: michele.calabro@euregha.netEUREGHA's vision is to ensure that the local and regional perspective is represented in EU health policy because local and regional authorities are the natural interface between citizens and European institutions, being the bridging bodies between policies and practices and the closest organizations to the concept of communities.We are the only European network prioritizing the representation of local and regional health authorities at EU level, as they fulfil a key role in improving efficiency, quality, and accessibility of healthcare systems and services.EUREGHA understands their specific needs and works tirelessly to represent regional and local health authorities in EU health policy, to amplify their voices as a means to improve European public health and healthcare.Through advocacy, policy monitoring, profile promotion, partnerships, and project development, EUREGHA facilitates and promotes collaboration between its members, EU institutions, pan-European health networks and other healthcare stakeholders.Network activities and projects are implemented upon a strategic background of ''ways to make things happen'' such as value based healthcare, smart specialization strategies and skills for innovation and digital transformation -on one side -and along thematic and field objectives such as crossborder healthcare, cancer, obesity, mental health and ageingon the other side.Lower Austria is a long-standing member and Vice-Chair of EUREGHA.

8.D. Oral presentations: Diabetes and nutrition
Abstract citation ID: ckac129.490Nitrites and nitrates dietary exposure from natural sources and additives and type-2 diabetes risk Bobigny, Nitrates and nitrites occur naturally in water and soil and are commonly ingested from drinking water and dietary sources.They are also used as food additives.The epidemiological evidence linking exposure to nitrites/nitrates with type-2 diabetes (T2D) risk is scarce.We aimed to study these associations in a large population based prospective cohort study.Overall, 104,168 adults from the French NutriNet-Sante ćohort study (median follow-up time 6.7 years) were included.Associations between intakes of nitrites and nitrates (evaluated using repeated 24h dietary records, linked to a comprehensive food composition database and accounting for details of commercial names/brands of industrial products) and risk of T2D were assessed using cause-specific multivariable Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for known risk factors (sociodemographic, anthropometric, lifestyle, medical history, and nutritional factors).During follow-up, 969 incident T2D cases were ascertained.Total nitrites and nitrites from natural sources were both positively associated with higher T2D risk (HRtertile 3 vs.1 = 1.29 (95% CI 1.06-1.56),Ptrend = 0.004, and 1.27 (95% CI 1.05-1.54),Ptrend = 0.01, respectively).Participants with higher exposure to nitrites from food additives (i.e.above the sex-specific median), and specifically those having higher exposure to sodium nitrite (e250) had a higher T2D risk compared with those who were not exposed to food additive nitrites (HRtertile 3 vs.1 = 1.58 (95% CI 1.28-1.94),Ptrend<0.001,and 1.59 (95% CI 1.30-1.96),Ptrend<0.001),respectively).There was no evidence for an association between nitrates of any source and T2D risk (all Ptrend>0.4).In this large prospective cohort, a higher dietary exposure to nitrites (from both natural sources and food additives) was associated with higher T2D risk.These results provide additional evidence in the context of current discussions about updating regulations on the use of nitrites as food additives.

Key messages:
A high exposure to dietary nitrites (from both natural and food additive sources) is associated with an increased risk of type-2 diabetes.These findings support further regulations concerning the use of nitrites as food additives in processed meats.