Antiplatelet Treatment Preferences of a Group of Cardiologists from Türkiye: A Survey Research Study.

OBJECTIVE: Deciding on the optimal duration of dual antiplatelet treatment (DAPT) remains a complex decision. This survey aims to explore the preferences for antiplatelet therapy and the daily routine regarding DAPT duration in coronary artery disease among a group of cardiologists in Türkiye. METHOD: Using an online questionnaire with 38 questions, the preferences of 314 cardiologists were collected. Qualitative descriptive characteristics of the answers received from the participants were examined. RESULTS: Participating cardiologists mostly worked in training and research hospitals (51.59%) and university hospitals (21.66%). Participants primarily favored ticagrelor in patients undergoing PCI with a diagnosis of STEMI and NSTE-ACS (69.75% and 55.73% respectively). Clopidogrel was the most preferred P2Y12 treatment in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) after PCI (94.90%). Pre-treatment with a loading dose of a P2Y12 receptor inhibitor was administered to 57.01% of patients with NSTE-ACS, irrespective of the planned treatment strategy. In NSTE-ACS patients with low bleeding risk treated with PCI, 83.12% of participants recommended DAPT for 12 months and 14.65% for >12 months. In high-bleeding-risk NSTE-ACS patients treated with PCI, DAPT durations of six months (74.52%), three months (19.75%), and one month (5.73%) were chosen. Among CCS patients treated with PCI without an increased risk of bleeding, 12 months of DAPT was preferred by 68.15% of participants. Most participants (70.70%) were switching to a more potent P2Y12 receptor inhibitor therapy in emergency department clopidogrel-loaded patients with ACS. CONCLUSION: The aim of this survey to capture a snapshot of the preferences of a group of cardiologists in Türkiye regarding DAPT treatment and duration. The responses were both in accordance and in conflict with the current guidelines.

Direct transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) decreases silent cerebral infarction when compared to routine balloon valvuloplasty.

PURPOSE: Silent cerebral infarctions (SCI), as determined by neuron-specific enolase (NSE) elevations, may develop after the transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedure. Our aim in this study was to compare the SCI rates between patients who underwent routine pre-dilatation balloon aortic valvuloplasty (pre-BAV) and patients who underwent direct TAVI without pre-BAV. METHODS: A total of 139 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI in a single center using the self-expandable Evolut-R valve (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA) were included in the study. The first 70 patients were included in the pre-BAV group, and the last 69 patients were included in the direct TAVI group. SCI was detected by serum NSE measurements performed at baseline and 12 h after the TAVI. New NSE elevations > 12 ng/mL after the procedure were counted as SCI. In addition, SCI was scanned by MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) in eligible patients. RESULTS: TAVI procedure was successful in all of the study population. Post-dilatation rates were higher in the direct TAVI group. Post-TAVI NSE positivity (SCI) was higher in the routine pre-BAV group (55(78.6%) vs. 43(62.3%) patients, p = 0.036) and NSE levels were also higher in this group (26.8 ± 15.0 vs. 20.5 ± 14.8 ng/ml, p = 0.015). SCI with MRI was found to be significantly higher in the pre-BAV group than direct TAVI group (39(55.1%) vs. 31(44.9%) patients). The presence of atrial fibrillation and diabetes mellitus (DM), total cusp calcification volume, calcification at arcus aorta, routine pre-BAV and failure at first try of the prosthetic valve implantation were significantly higher in SCI (+) group. In the multivariate analysis, presence of DM, total cusp calcification volume, calcification at arcus aorta, routine pre-BAV and failure at first try of the prosthetic valve implantation were significantly associated with new SCI development. CONCLUSIONS: Direct TAVI procedure without pre-dilation seems to be an effective method and avoidance of pre-dilation decreases the risk of SCI development in patients undergoing TAVI with a self-expandable valve.

Rationale, Design, and Methodology of the MORCOR-TURK Trial: Predictors of In-hospital MORtality in CORonary Care Patients in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Coronary care units are sophisticated clinics established to reduce deaths due to acute cardiovascular events. Current data on coronary care unit mortality rates and predictors of mortality in Turkey are very limited. The MORtality predictors in CORonary care units in TURKey (MORCOR-TURK) trial was designed to provide information on the mortality rates and predictors in patients followed in coronary care units in Turkey. METHODS: The MORCOR-TURK trial will be a national, observational, multicenter, and noninterventional study conducted in Turkey. The study population will include coronary care unit patients from 50 centers selected from all regions in Turkey. All consecutive patients admitted to coronary care units with cardiovascular diagnoses between 1 and 30 September 2022 will be prospectively enrolled. All data will be collected at one point in time, and the current clinical practice will be evaluated (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT05296694). In the first step of the study, admission diagnoses, demographic characteristics, basic clinical and laboratory data, and in-hospital management will be assessed. At the end of the first step, the predictors and rates of in-hospital mortality will be documented. The second step will be in cohort design, and discharged patients will be followed up till 1 year. Predictors of short- and long-term mortality will be assessed. Moreover, a new coronary care unit mortality score will be generated with data acquired from this cohort. RESULTS: The short-term outcomes of the study are planned to be shared by early 2023. CONCLUSION: The MORCOR-TURK trial will be the largest and most comprehensive study in Turkey evaluating the rates and predictors of in-hospital mortality of patients admitted to coronary care units.

Modified Glasgow Prognostic Score May Be Useful to Predict Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Heart Failure Patients Undergone Cardiac Resynchronization Treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Whether modified Glasgow prognostic score predicts prognosis in patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillation is unknown. Our aim was to investigate the association of modified Glasgow prognostic score with death and hospitalization in cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillation patients. METHODS: A total of 306 heart failure with reduced ejection fraction patients who underwent cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillation implantation were categorized into 3 groups based on their modified Glasgow prognostic score categorical levels. C-reactive protein >10 mg/L or albumin <35 g/L was assigned 1 point each and the patients were classified into 0, 1, and 2 points, respectively. Remodeling was determined according to the clinical event and myocardial remodeling criteria. Major adverse cardiac events were defined as mortality and/or hospitalization for heart failure. RESULTS: Age, New York Heart Association functional class, modified Glasgow prognostic score prior to cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillation, sodium levels, and left atrial diameter were higher in the major adverse cardiac events(+) group. Age, left atrial diameter, and higher modified Glasgow prognostic score were found to be predictors of heart failure hospitalization/death in multivariable penalized Cox regression analysis. Besides, patients with lower modified Glasgow prognostic score showed better reverse left ventricular remodeling demonstrated by increase in left ventricle ejection fraction and decline in left ventricle end systolic volume. CONCLUSION: Modified Glasgow prognostic score prior to cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillation can be used as a predictor of long-term heart failure hospitalization and death in addition to age and left atrial diameter. These results can guide the patient selection for cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillation therapy and highlight the importance of nutritional status.

The Role of Systemic Immune Inflammation Index for Predicting Saphenous Vein Graft Disease in Patients with Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

As inflammation plays a significant role in the development of coronary artery disease, we hypothesized that there may be a relation between the systemic immune inflammation index (SII) and saphenous vein graft disease (SVGD). The study population consisted of 716 consecutive patients who underwent elective coronary angiography (CAG) >1 year after bypass grafting. The patients were divided into 2 groups depending on the extent of SVG patency. SII value was significantly higher in the SVGD(+) group compared with the SVGD(-) group (P < .001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, SII (P < .001, odds ratio (OR) = 3.27, 95% CI = 1.94-5.65) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (P < .001, OR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.59-3.11) were found to be independent predictors of SVGD. An SII value of >935 (x103/ml) has 89.2% sensitivity and 70.6% specificity for the prediction of the SVGD, and an NLR value of >4.15 has 54.6% sensitivity and 68.5% specificity for the prediction of the SVGD. The AUC of SII was found to be greater than the AUC of NLR (P = .002), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) (P = .009), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) (P = .013), MPV (P = .011), and C-reactive protein (CRP) (P = .034) in predicting SVGD. In conclusion, we demonstrated that SII, which is among the new inflammation indexes, is a more reliable predictor in determining SVGD than the NLR, PLR, and LMR.

A New Insight Into Pathophysiological Mechanism of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm With Novel Parameters Salusin-ß and Arterial Stiffness.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has risk factors similar to those of atherosclerosis. Salusin-ß and arterial stiffness are novel parameters that have been shown to predict atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular disorders. However, their predictive value for detecting AAA remains unclear. METHODS: Forty-eight patients with AAA and 47 age- and sex-matched participants without AAA were enrolled in the study. Arterial stiffness parameters were obtained via an oscillometric Mobil-O-Graph PWA Monitor device (IEM GmbH) with integrated ARCSolver software (Australian Institute of Technology). Plasma salusin-ß levels were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay reagent kit (Abbkine, Inc). The measured salusin-ß levels and arterial stiffness parameters of the AAA and control groups were compared. RESULTS: Salusin-ß levels were significantly lower in patients with AAA (P = .014). There was a significant negative correlation between salusin-ß levels and abdominal aorta diameter. No significant difference was detected between AAA and control groups in terms of arterial stiffness parameters (P > .05). In backward multiple regression analysis, the presence of AAA, platelet count, and augmentation index were found to be independent predictors of salusin-ß levels (P = .006 and P = .023, respectively). CONCLUSION: Arterial stiffness parameters were not found to be associated with AAA. Contrary to previous results regarding atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular disorders, salusin-ß levels were found to be lower in patients with AAA. Although AAA is thought to have similar risk factors as atherosclerosis, the exact pathophysiologic mechanism remains unclear.

The Safety and Tolerability of Nebivolol in Hypertensive Patients with Coronary Artery Disease and Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction ≥ 40%: A Population-Based Cohort Study (Nebivolol-TR Study).

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the safety and tolerability of nebivolol in hypertensive patients with coronary artery disease and left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ 40% in a Turkish cohort. METHODS: A total of 1015 hypertensive patients and coronary artery disease with left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ 40% were analyzed from 29 different centers in Turkey. Primary outcomes were the mean change in blood pressure and heart rate. Secondary outcomes were to assess the rate of reaching targeted blood pressure (<130/80 mmHg) and heart rate (<60 bpm) and the changes in the clinical symptoms (angina and dyspnea). Adverse clinical events and clinical outcomes including cardiovascular mortality, cardiovascular hospital admissions, or acute cardiac event were recorded. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 60.3 ± 11.5 years (male: 54.2%). During a mean follow-up of 6 months, the mean change in blood pressure was -11.2 ± 23.5/-5.1 ± 13.5 mmHg, and the resting heart rate was -12.1 ± 3.5 bpm. Target blood pressure and heart rate were achieved in 76.5% and 37.7% of patients. Angina and functional classifications were improved by at least 1 or more categories in 31% and 23.2% of patients. No serious adverse events related to nebivolol were reported. The most common cardiovascular side effect was symptomatic hypotension (4.2%). The discontinuation rate was 1.7%. Cardiovascular hospital admission rate was 5% and hospitalization due to heart failure was 1.9% during 6 months' follow-up. Cardiovascular mortality rate was 0.1%. CONCLUSION: Nebivolol was well tolerated and safe for achieving blood pressure and heart rate control in hypertensive patients with coronary artery disease and heart failure with preserved or mildly reduced ejection fraction.

Association of serum elabela levels with carotid artery stenosis in patients with non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke.

Aim: Elabela (ELA) is a peptide of the apelinergic system and is known to play a role in endothelial homeostasis and vascular pathobiology. In this study, the relationship between carotid artery stenosis, which is the main culprit, and ELA level in patients with non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke was investigated. Materials & methods: Cross-sectional observation included two groups of 40 patients with critical carotid artery stenosis and 40 patients with age-sex matched noncritical carotid artery stenosis. Results: ELA levels were significantly higher in the noncritical stenosis group. ELA had a significantly moderate negative correlation with the carotid score (r = -0.334, p = 0.003), maximal carotid plaque length (r = -0.413, p < 0.001) and degree of stenosis (r = -0.397, p < 0.001). Conclusions: There is a significant inverse correlation between critical carotid artery disease and ELA level in patients with non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke.

Use of TIMI Risk Index as a Simple and Valuable Prognostic Tool in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Who Underwent Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

OBJECTIVE: Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Index is a risk stratification model developed to determine the prognosis in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients who underwent fibrinolytic therapy. The information on the effectiveness of Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Index in patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention is limited. This study aimed to demonstrate the predictive value of Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Index on clinical outcomes in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and subsequently undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS: A total of 963 patients who presented with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and subsequently underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention were reviewed retrospectively. The discriminative power of Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Index for each outcome of congestive heart failure, death, stroke, and myocardial infarction within 1 month and 1 year after admission was assessed. RESULTS: Congestive heart failure, death, stroke, and myocardial infarction, and the major adverse cardiac events, which is the composite outcome thereof, were higher in the patient groups with high Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Index values (P < .05). Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Index was an independent predictor of the following outcomes: 1-month survival rate [odds ratio:1.054 (1.036-1.073)], 1-year survival rate [odds ratio:1.048 (1.031-1.065)], hospitalization rate due to congestive heart failure within 1 month [odds ratio:1.041(1.026-1.057)], and within 1 year [odds ratio:1.040 (1.024-1.055)]. The Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Index level was found to have good discriminative power for 1-month mortality and 1-year mortality rates (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Index: 22.76, C-statistic: 0.71-0.68, respectively). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Index value is an independent predictor of clinical outcomes such as death and heart failure but not subsequent myocardial infarction in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients. The use of Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Risk Index can be considered in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention as it is an easily applicable and important indicator of prognosis.

Evaluation of demographic and clinical characteristics of female patients presenting with MINOCA and differences between male patients: A subgroup analysis of MINOCA-TR registry.

OBJECTIVE: Although the prevalence and rate of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) are higher in women than in men in previous cohorts, potential demographic and clinical differences between women who are diagnosed with MINOCA versus myocardial infarction with obstructive coronary arteries (MIOCA) have not been studied till date. In this study, we aimed to document these characteristics and to compare them between female patients with MINOCA and MIOCA. METHODS: The study was a subgroup analysis of the MINOCA-TR study. The study was a multi-center, observational cohort study that was conducted in Turkey between March 2018 and October 2018. In this study, 477 (29.3%) female patients who had been diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction were evaluated. RESULTS: Of these women, 49 (10.3%) were diagnosed with MINOCA (mean age 58.9±12.9 years) and 428 (89.7%) had a final diagnosis of MIOCA (mean age 67.4±11.8 years). The prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus was significantly lower in the MINOCA group than in the MIOCA group. In addition, the MINOCA group had higher rates of recent flu history and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) presentation than the MIOCA group. There were significant clinical differences in patients with MINOCA in terms of sex. The female patients were older, had higher systolic blood pressures, and lower hemoglobin levels than male patients. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that the prevalence of traditional coronary artery disease risk factors was lower in female patients with MINOCA than in those who had final diagnosis of MIOCA.

Assessment of pulmonary arterial stiffness in patients with systemic sclerosis without overt pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a pathophysiological disorder that may involve multiple clinical conditions and complicate most systemic diseases. Systemic sclerosis (SSc), represents the leading cause of connective tissue disease (CTD) associated with PAH. Although SSc is a rare disease, it is associated with higher morbidity and early mortality than other rheumatological diseases due to developing SSc-associated interstitial pulmonary disease (ILD) and/or pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The impact of the early diagnosis on the prognosis is evident. In this context, in our study, we aimed to investigate the early changes in pulmonary vascular bed by measuring pulmonary arterial stiffness (PAS) in SSc patients without overt PAH. Sixty-two SSc patients and fifty-eight gender and age-matched, healthy subjects enrolled in this cross-sectional observational study. SSc patients were evaluated in terms of disease duration and severity. Modified rodnan skin score (mRSS) was calculated as disease severity index. Echocardiographic parameters were assessed and compared to the control group. Right ventricular (RV) diameters, systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP), and right ventricle myocardial performance index (RV-MPI) were significantly higher in the SSc group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC) were significantly lower in the SSc group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). PAS value (25.5 ± 9.2 kHz/ms vs. 18.1 ± 7.4 kHz/ms, p < 0.001) was significantly higher in the SSc group than in the control group. A statistically significant positive correlation relationship was detected between the PAS value and CRP, ESR, disease duration, mRSS. According to these results, in SSc patients, PAS as an inexpensive and easily applicable echocardiographic method might serve as a marker of early detection of PAH.

The association between nondipper pattern and perioperative hypertension in patients with controlled hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative hypertension is a frequent complication even in preoperatively normotensive or controlled hypertensive patients and there is a lack of data regarding the effect of nondipping pattern on perioperative hypertension. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to investigate the possible effect of nondipping blood pressure pattern on the risk of perioperative hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 234 hypertensive patients who underwent surgery with general anesthesia were evaluated prospectively. The study enrolled patients with well-controlled preoperative blood pressure. The 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring results were used to classify patients as dippers and nondippers. Perioperative hypertension is defined as a systolic/diastolic arterial blood pressure greater than or equal to 160/90 mmHg or systolic blood pressure elevated by more than 20% from the patient's baseline level for more than 15 min perioperatively. RESULTS: There were 61 (26%) nondipper patients [mean age: 62.1 ± 7.1 years, 25 (40.9%) men] and 173 (74%) dipper patients [mean age: 61.4 ± 8.1 years, 83 (47.9%) men]. In the nondipper group, perioperative hypertension was observed in 31 (51.3%) patients, whereas in the dipper group, 33 (19.3%) patients experienced a hypertensive attack (P < 0.001). The independent predictors of perioperative hypertension were the presence of the nondipping pattern [odds ratio (OR) 3.084; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.831-5.195; P < 0.001], the presence of diabetes mellitus (OR 2.059; 95% CI 1.215-3.490; P = 0.007), and the number of drugs (OR 2.317; 95% CI 1.102-5.097; P = 0.027). CONCLUSION: The frequency of perioperative hypertension was higher in preoperative normotensive and known hypertensive patients who were identified as nondippers. In addition, diabetes mellitus and number of drugs were found to be predictors of perioperative hypertension.

Relationship between Selvester ECG Score and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Early risk stratification plays a crucial role in the treatment of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Selvester score is an electrocardiography (ECG)-based method for estimating infarcted myocardial mass, however it has not been studied in NSTEMI before. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between Selvester score and cardiovascular outcomes in a 1-year follow-up period in NSTEMI patients. METHODS: One hundred and forty-three consecutive patients with NSTEMI were analyzed. TIMI and GRACE risk scores were calculated accordingly. Selvester score was calculated on surface ECG as reported in prior studies. Syntax score was calculated using an online calculator. The study population was divided into two groups based on a cut-off value from receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for the discriminative ability of Selvester score for mortality: low score (≤ 4), and high score (> 4) groups. RESULTS: Age was higher, left ventricle ejection fraction and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were significantly lower, and TIMI, GRACE and SYNTAX scores were significantly higher in the high Selvester score group. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, ejection fraction [hazard ratio (HR): 0.926, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.883-0.971, p = 0.002] and Selvester score > 4 (HR: 3.335, 95% CI: 1.306-8.503, p = 0.012) were found to be independent predictors of adverse events after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Selvester score is a fast and feasible method that has prognostic value for mortality and other major adverse outcomes in low and intermediate risk NSTEMI patients treated with urgent percutaneous coronary intervention for 12 months.

Effect of ranolazine on Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QTc, and P-wave dispersion in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

INTRODUCTION: Ranolazine is an antianginal drug and also exhibits antiarrhythmic effect by affecting action potential time, refractory period, and repolarization reserve. We evaluated the effect of ranolazine therapy on myocardial repolarization parameters (Tp-e, QT, QTc intervals, Tp-e/QT, and Tp-e/QTc ratios), index of cardiac electrophysiological balance (iCEB) (QT/QRS, QTc/QRS) and P-wave dispersion (PWD) in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: This study included 175 patients, aged between 35 and 90 years who were followed with stable CAD for at least 3 months. Ninety patients had been receiving ranolazine for at least 1 month, and 85 patients had never received ranolazine. All patients' basic demographic data, risk factors, medications, and echocardiographic parameters recorded. Myocardial repolarization parameters, P-wave times, and PWD were analyzed from 12 lead electrodes. RESULTS: There was no variation between the groups in terms of basic demographic parameters and CAD risk factors. Tp-e interval (87.3 ± 14.4 vs. 90.8 ± 12.4 msn, P < .001), Tp-e/QT (0.22 ± 0.04 vs. 0.23 ± 0.03; P = .03), Tp-e/QTc (0.21 ± 0.04 vs. 0.22 ± 0.04 P = .001), and PWD (39.2 ± 13.7 vs. 43.5 ± 12.9 P = .028) were significantly lower in the ranolazine group. But iCEB was similar in both groups. In multivariate analysis after adjusted confounding factors such as age and BMI, Tp-e/QTc ratio, QTc, Pmax, and PWD were found significantly in ranolazine group again. CONCLUSION: Tp-e/QTc ratio, QTc, Pmax, and PWD were significantly lower in stable CAD patients under ranolazine therapy. In stable CAD patients, the prognostic significance of ranolazine for arrhythmic events requires further evaluation of these parameters through long-term follow-up and large-scale prospective studies.

Angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor for patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction: Real-world experience from Turkey (ARNi-TR).

OBJECTIVE: Heart failure (HF) is a growing public health problem with high morbidity and mortality. Recently, angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNi) has emerged as a promising treatment for HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Here, we shared our experience with the use of ARNi in HFrEF from multiple centers in Turkey. METHODS: The ARNi-TR is a multicenter, noninterventional, retrospective, observational study. Overall, 779 patients with HF from 22 centers in Turkey who were prescribed sacubitril/valsartan were examined. Initial clinical status, biochemical and echocardiographic parameters, and New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA-FC) values were compared with follow-up values after 1 year of ARNi use. In addition, the effect of ARNi on number of annual hospitalizations was investigated, and the patients were divided into 2 groups, depending on whether ARNi was initiated at hospitalization or under outpatient clinic control. RESULTS: N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), left-ventricle ejection fraction (LV-EF), and NYHA-FC values improved significantly in both groups (all parameters, p<0.001) within 1-year follow-up. In both groups, a decrease in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) values was observed in ARNi use (p<0.001), and a decrease in daily diuretic doses and hospitalizations owing to HF were observed after ARNi use (all comparisons, p<0.001). Hypotension (16.9%) was the most common side effect in patients using ARN. CONCLUSION: The ARNi-TR study offers comprehensive real-life data for patients using ARNi in Turkey. The use of ARNi has shown significant improvements in FC, NT-proBNP, HbA1c levels, and LV-EF. Likewise, reductions in the number of annual hospitalizations and daily furosemide doses for HF were seen in this study.

Impaired left atrial strain in the presence of interatrial block in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most common chronic diseases, and is a risk factor for atrial cardiomyopathy. Interatrial block (IAB), as a predictor of AF, is correlated with the extent of LA fibrosis in the process of atrial cardiomyopathy. We have not encountered any study evaluating LA and LV functions with 3D-STE in the presence of IAB in the T2DM patients. The purpose of the present study was to compare the LA and LV myocardial functions in patients with T2DM with and without IAB by 3D-STE. A total of 175 consecutive patients with T2DM who were examined at outpatient clinics were enrolled in the study (85 patients with IAB and 90 patients without IAB). Surface 12-lead standard electrocardiograms (ECGs) were recorded. Clinical characteristics and laboratory values of the patients were obtained. Conventional 2D echocardiographic and 3D-STE analyses were performed. The mean age of the patients was 59 ± 8.7 years, and 112 (64%) of the patients were female. The LAS-r and LAS-active were significantly decreased in the IAB (+) group than in the IAB (-) group. Statistically significant strong negative linear correlations were observed between P-wave duration and 3D-LA strain values. Our results indicate that there is an impairment in LA myocardial dynamics in the presence of IAB in T2DM patients. According to these findings, we can say that it will be useful to evaluate the LA functions at the preclinical stage in the presence of IAB in patients with T2DM, when considering ischemic cardiovascular and cerebral events.

Relationship Between the Fibrinogen-to-Albumin Ratio and SYNTAX Score in Patients with Non-St-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Despite the association of fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) with the extent, severity, and complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and stable CAD, no studies to date have specifically addressed this issue in patients with non-STEMI (NSTEMI). OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate whether a relationship exists between FAR and the SYNergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with TAXus (SYNTAX) score in patients with NSTEMI. METHODS: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 330 patients with NSTEMI who had undergone coronary angiography in an academic medical center were divided into two groups: those with an intermediate/high (≥23) SYNTAX score (241 patients) and those with a low SYNTAX score < 23 (89 patients). SYNTAX score was computed by two highly experienced cardiologists (who were blinded to the study data) using an online SYNTAX calculator. Fibrinogen and albumin levels were measured in all patients, and FAR was calculated. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that FAR (odds ratio [OR]: 1.478, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.089-2.133, p = 0.002), low-density lipoprotein (OR: 1.058, 95% CI: 1.008-1.134, p = 0.026), and troponin I (OR: 1.219, 95% CI: 1.015-1.486, p = 0.031) were independent predictors of the SYNTAX score. In a receiver operating characteristics analysis, a cutoff FAR value of 95.3 had an 83% sensitivity and an 86% specificity (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.84, p < 0.001) for the prediction of SYNTAX scores ≥23 in NSTEMI patients. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that FAR is a useful tool to predict intermediate-high SYNTAX scores in NSTEMI patients.

Modified model for end-stage liver disease score predicts 30-day mortality in high-risk patients with acute pulmonary embolism admitted to intensive care units.

OBJECTIVES: The Model for End-stage Liver Disease excluding the international normalised ratio that is derived from prothrombin time which is calculated as a ratio of the patient's prothrombin time to a control prothrombin time standardized (MELD-XI) and modified MELD, which uses albumin in place of the international normalised ratio (MELD-Albumin) scores reflect liver and renal function and are predictors of mortality. However, their prognostic value in acute pulmonary embolism (APE) has not been studied. DESIGN: We assessed the predictive value of the MELD scores in patients diagnosed with high-risk APE admitted to the intensive care unit. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. RESULTS: Of the 273 patients included in the study, 231 were survivors and 42 were non-survivors. The mortality rate was 15.3%. The mean MELD-XI and MELD-Albumin scores were significantly higher in the non-survivors than in the survivors (MELD XI, 11.8 ± 1.8 and 10.6 ± 1.43, respectively; p = .002; MELD-Albumin, 10.5 ± 1.6 and 8.7 ± 1.1, respectively; p = .001). The multiple logistic regression analysis identified the MELD-XI (hazard ratio: 3.029, confidence interval: 1.06-1.21, p = .007) and MELD-Albumin (hazard ratio: 1.13, confidence interval: 1.06-1.21, p = .002) scores as independent predictors of mortality. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that the predictive power of the MELD-Albumin score (0.871 ± 0.014; p < .001) was higher than those of the MELD-XI (0.726 ± 0.022, p < .001), APACHE III (0.682 ± 0.024, p < .001), and PESI (0.624 ± 0.023, p < .001) scores. CONCLUSIONS: The MELD-Albumin score is an easily calculable, reliable, and practical risk assessment tool and independent predictor of 30-day mortality in patients with high-risk APE.

Effects of angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibition on pulmonary arterial stiffness in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

The sacubitril/valsartan combination is an important agent used in the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Pulmonary artery stiffness (PAS) is an index developed to evaluate the pulmonary vascular bed. Changes in pulmonary vascular structures in HFrEF patients can affect PAS. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of sacubitril/valsartan on PAS in HFrEF patients. One hundred fifty HFrEF patients, who received sacubitril/valsartan therapy and continued for at least 6 months without interruption, were examined retrospectively. N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels (NT-proBNP), NYHA classes, Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLWHFQ) scores, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classes and echocardiograpic parameters such as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), right ventricle myocardial performance index (RV-MPI), Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), right ventricular fractional area change (RV-FAC) and PAS changes were evaluated before and 6 months after sacubitril/valsartan treatment. PAS was calculated by using the maximal frequency shift and acceleration time of the pulmonary artery flow trace measured in the echocardiogram. PAS values were significantly reduced (23.8 ± 2.8 vs 19.1 ± 3.1 kHz/ms, p < 0.001) after the sacubitril/valsartan treatment. Sacubitril/valsartan treatment was associated with significant improvements in NYHA class and MLWHFQ scores; significant reductions in the NT-proBNP levels, mPAP, and RV-MPI, and significant increases in LVEF, TAPSE, and RV-FAC (p < 0.05). The significant reduction in the PAS value was significantly correlated with the improvements in the MLWFQ scores, NT-proBNP levels, mPAP, RV-MPI, TAPSE and RV-FAC. In HFrEF patients, switching from angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blocker therapy to sacubitril/valsartan may result in reduction in PAS.