Interview with Professor Lia Crotti
di Francesca Conti
Professor Crotti, can you tell us about the new services offered by the Auxologico Cardiomyopathy Center?
“We have recently introduced two new services for patients with cardiomyopathies that we believe to be extremely important: psychological support for patients with cardiomyopathy and their families, and non-competitive sports certification. These services were also created thanks to the collaboration with AICARM. In fact, it was precisely during the meetings organized with patients that these two needs emerged forcefully. On the one hand, patients complained about difficulties in obtaining non-competitive certifications, because certifying doctors are often afraid to issue such certifications to patients with cardiomyopathies. The other need that emerged forcefully is that of being able to have dedicated psychological support for them and their children.
How is psychological support structured?
“Psychological support is a project we had already started in our Genetic Arrhythmia Center, which deals with channelopathies, pathologies that have in common with cardiomyopathies the fact that they are familial and put at risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmias that can lead to cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death. We wanted to involve two specialists in the project with specific expertise for the different age groups. For adolescents and children, we rely on Dr. Angela Gammarano, an expert in pediatrics and adolescents, while for adults we collaborate with Dr. Clarissa Volpi. Both professionals have experience and specialization in their respective fields.”
What advantages does the service offer in terms of accessibility?
“To facilitate access for patients who come from all over Italy, we decided to implement an online platform. This allows us to organize sessions remotely, making the service more inclusive. Furthermore, aware that psychological support is not covered by the National Health System, we have obtained controlled rates. Thanks to AICARM, we are also working on a fundraising project to support families in economic difficulty, who will be able to request reimbursement of expenses incurred. This system is still being defined, but we expect to make it operational soon.”
Can you explain the importance of the non-competitive sports certification service?
“In our team, Dr. Silvia Castelletti deals with non-competitive sports certifications. We have created a dedicated clinic for patients with cardiomyopathies who need these certifications. This service guarantees safety and customization: we know which patients can obtain the certification without problems, which require specific recommendations and how to manage the most complex cases. Furthermore, special cases are discussed by the Cardiomyopathy Center team before sending them to the sports cardiology clinic. This way we offer a complete path, which takes into account both the physical safety and the psychological well-being of the patient.”
Are these services reserved for patients of the Cardiomyopathy Center?
“No, we don’t want to limit ourselves to our patients. These services are open to all patients with cardiomyopathies, even if they are followed by other centers. We want to offer inclusive and accessible support to meet the needs of anyone who needs it.”
In conclusion, what is the main message you want to give to patients?
“Our goal is not only to best treat patients with cardiomyopathies, but also to improve their quality of life, offering innovative, accessible services that are focused on their needs. Health is not just a physical issue, but also a psychological one, and we want to be alongside patients and their families in every aspect of the treatment journey.”
Starting this year, AICARM has provided financial support to ensure patients with an income not exceeding €15.000 (in reference to declarations verified via a valid ISEE model) 'access to the best national care'. For 2025, the Council has allocated €5.000 for initial requests.
A regulation, approved on November 5 and available on www.aicarm.it, governs the provision of contributions of up to €500 for expenses already incurred (visits, drugs, tests, operations, rehabilitation, travel). The application form and instructions are available on the AICARM website.
Prof. Lia Crotti directs the Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit at the Auxologico San Luca Institute in Milan and the Cardiomyopathy Center at the same institute. She is also vice-director of the Center for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Genetic Arrhythmic Pathologies and of the Cardiovascular Genetics Laboratory. Her experience encompasses both the clinical aspect and that of genetic research in hereditary cardiac pathologies.