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Background: There is a lack of studies supporting the association between the uric acid/albumin ratio (UAR) and the development of new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the efficacy of the UAR for predicting the occurrence of NOAF in STEMI patients undergoing pPCI. Methods: We recruited 1484 consecutive STEMI patients in this retrospective and cross-sectional investigation. The population sample was classified based on the development of NOAF during hospitalization. NOAF was defined as an atrial fibrillation (AF) observed during hospitalization in patients without a history of AF or atrial flutter. The UAR was computed by dividing the serum uric acid (UA) level by serum albumin level. Results: After pPCI, 119 STEMI patients (8%) were diagnosed with NOAF. NOAF patients had higher serum UAR levels than individuals who did not have NOAF. According to the multivariable logistic regression model, the UAR was an independent predictor for NOAF in STEMI patients (OR: 6.951, 95% CI: 2.978-16.28, p < 0.001). The area under curve (AUC) value of the UAR in a receiver operating characteristics (ROC) evaluation was 0.758, which was greater than those of its components (albumin [AUC: 0.633] and UA [AUC: 0.647]) and C-reactive protein (AUC: 0.714). The optimal UAR value in predicting NOAF in STEMI patients was greater than 1.39, with a sensitivity of 69% and a specificity of 74.5%. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study indicating that the UAR was an independent predictor of NOAF development in STEMI patients.
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Fibrilación Atrial , Infarto del Miocardio con Elevación del ST , Fibrilación Atrial/diagnóstico , Fibrilación Atrial/epidemiología , Fibrilación Atrial/etiología , Proteína C-Reactiva/metabolismo , Estudios Transversales , Humanos , Estudios Retrospectivos , Factores de Riesgo , Infarto del Miocardio con Elevación del ST/diagnóstico , Ácido ÚricoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Diastolic dysfunction (DD) in transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), which is a poorly understood entity due to its limited treatment, is frequently encountered in daily clinical practice of cardiology. An electrocardiographic (ECG) index to predict echocardiographic DD has not been elucidated yet. We aim to exhibit an electrocardiographic diastolic index (EDI) to predict TTE DD with high sensitivity and specificity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective investigation, we tested the DD predictive value of EDI [aVL R amplitudeâ¯× (V1S amplitudeâ¯+ V5R amplitude)/D1 P amplitude] on 204 consecutive adult patients without known coronary artery disease. Patients were divided into tertiles according to their EDI starting from the lowest one. The power of the EDI was also compared with the subunits of its formula by a receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis. RESULTS: After adjustment for confounding baseline variables, EDI in tertile 3 was associated with 24.2-fold hazard ratio of DD (odds ratio 25.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 11.2-51.1, pâ¯< 0.001). The Spearman correlation analysis revealed moderate correlation between E/e' and EDI. A ROC analysis showed that the optimal cut-off value of the EDI to predict DD was 8.53â¯mV with 70% sensitivity and 70% specificity (area under the curve 0.78; 95% CI 0.71-0.84; pâ¯< 0.001). CONCLUSION: The electrocardiographic diastolic index (EDI), which is an inexpensive, feasible, and easy to use formula, appears to have a considerable role to predict diastolic dysfunction (DD) in adult patients.
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Disfunción Ventricular Izquierda , Adulto , Diástole , Ecocardiografía , Electrocardiografía , Humanos , Estudios Retrospectivos , Disfunción Ventricular Izquierda/diagnóstico por imagenRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: The present research aimed to determine the relation between the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inh) and angiotensinogen receptor blockers (ARBs) and in-hospital mortality of hypertensive patients diagnosed with Covid-19 pneumonia. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In this retrospective study, we included 113 consecutive hypertensive patients admitted due to Covid-19 infection. In all patients, Covid-19 infection was confirmed with using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. All patients were on ACE inh/ARBs or other antihypertensive therapy unless no contraindication was present. The primary outcome of the study was the in-hospital all-cause mortality. RESULTS: In total, 113 hypertensive Covid-19 patients were included, of them 74 patients were using ACE inh/ARBs. During in-hospital follow up, 30.9% [n = 35 patients] of patients died. The frequency of admission to the ICU and endotracheal intubation were significantly higher in patients using ACE inh/ARBs. In a multivariable analysis, the use of ACE inh/ARBs was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (OR: 3.66; 95%CI: 1.11-18.18; p= .032). Kaplan-Meir curve analysis displayed that patients on ACE inh/ARBs therapy had higher incidence of in-hospital death than those who were not. CONCLUSION: The present study has found that the use of ACE inh/ARBs therapy might be associated with an increased in-hospital mortality in patients who were diagnosed with Covid-19 pneumonia. It is likely that ACE inh/ARBs therapy might not be beneficial in the subgroup of hypertensive Covid-19 patients despite the fact that there might be the possibility of some unmeasured residual confounders to affect the results of the study.
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Antagonistas de Receptores de Angiotensina/efectos adversos , Inhibidores de la Enzima Convertidora de Angiotensina/efectos adversos , Betacoronavirus , Infecciones por Coronavirus/mortalidad , Hipertensión/tratamiento farmacológico , Neumonía Viral/mortalidad , Anciano , COVID-19 , Femenino , Mortalidad Hospitalaria , Hospitalización , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pandemias , Estudios Retrospectivos , SARS-CoV-2Asunto(s)
COVID-19 , Pruebas Diagnósticas de Rutina , Mortalidad Hospitalaria , Humanos , SARS-CoV-2 , Troponina IAsunto(s)
COVID-19/epidemiología , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/sangre , Troponina/sangre , Anciano , Biomarcadores/sangre , COVID-19/sangre , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/epidemiología , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pandemias , Pronóstico , Factores de Riesgo , SARS-CoV-2RESUMEN
The goal of this investigation was to explore the relationship between serum uric acid/albumin ratio (UAR) and no-reflow (NR) in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients (n = 838) who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). Angiographic NR was defined as thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flows 0, 1, and 2 in the absence of coronary spasm or dissection. NR developed in 91 (10.9%) STEMI patients. Patients with NR had higher UAR and according to multivariable logistic regression models, a high UAR was an independent risk factor for NR. The area under the curve (AUC) value of the UAR was .760 (95%CI: .720-.801) in a receiver-operating characteristics curve (ROC) assessment. Notably, the UAR AUC value was greater than that of its components: albumin (AUC: .642) and serum uric acid (AUC: .637) (P < .05 for both comparisons). The optimum UAR value in detecting NR in STEMI patients was >1.21 with a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 67%. This was the first study to report that the UAR was independently associated with NR in STEMI patients who underwent pPCI.
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Fenómeno de no Reflujo , Intervención Coronaria Percutánea , Infarto del Miocardio con Elevación del ST , Humanos , Infarto del Miocardio con Elevación del ST/diagnóstico por imagen , Infarto del Miocardio con Elevación del ST/terapia , Ácido Úrico , Pronóstico , Angiografía Coronaria , Albúminas , Fenómeno de no Reflujo/etiologíaRESUMEN
The aim of this study was to examine the Intermountain Risk Score (IMRS) for short- and long-term mortality in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients and compare it with the well-known risk scores, such as the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) and the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE). In this retrospective and cross-sectional study, 1057 consecutive patients with STEMI were evaluated. The end-points of the study were short- and long-term mortality. The overall mortality rate was 16% (n = 170 patients). The IMRS was significantly higher in STEMI patients who did not survive compared with those who survived. According to multivariable COX proportional regression analysis, the IMRS was independently related to both short- (HR: 1.482, 95% CI: 1.325-1.675, p < .001) and long-term mortality (HR: 1.915, 95% CI: 1.711-2.180, p < .001). The comparison of receiver operating characteristic curves revealed that the IMRS had non-inferior predictive capability for short- and long-term mortality than the TIMI and GRACE risk scores. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show that the IMRS can predict short- and long-term prognosis of patients with STEMI. Further, the IMRS' predictive value for overall mortality was non-inferior compared with TIMI and GRACE scores.
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Infarto del Miocardio , Infarto del Miocardio con Elevación del ST , Humanos , Infarto del Miocardio con Elevación del ST/diagnóstico , Infarto del Miocardio con Elevación del ST/terapia , Estudios Retrospectivos , Medición de Riesgo , Estudios Transversales , Factores de Riesgo , PronósticoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Prior studies showed that patients with elevated whole blood viscosity (WBV) had a higher risk of arterial thrombosis, acute stent thrombosis, and left ventricular apical thrombus presence after acute coronary syndrome. This investigation aimed to determine the association between WBV and high thrombus burden (HTB) in non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: This retrospective cohort investigation included data from consecutive 290 NSTEMI patients who received PCI at a tertiary institution. Patients with grade 1-3 thrombus burden were categorized as having low thrombus burden (LTB) (n = 178), whereas those with grade 4-5 thrombus burden were classified as having HTB (n = 112). WBV at high shear rate (HSR) and low shear rate (LSR) were estimated using hematocrit (HTC) and total protein levels. RESULTS: Patients with HTB had higher WBV at both LSR and HSR. In HTB patients, the frequency of infarct-related artery (IRA) reference vessel diameter, distal embolization, and no-reflow was also higher. Multivariable logistic regression models indicated that WBV at LSR (odds ratio [OR], 1.028; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.014-1.043; P < 0.001) and HSR (OR, 1.606; 95% CI, 1.334-1.953; P < 0.001) were independent predictors of HTB in NSTEMI patients. Notably, the area under the curve value of WBV at both shear rates was greater than that of its components, including total protein and HTC. CONCLUSION: This is the first study showing that WBV at both shear rates is a significant predictor of HTB in NSTEMI patients.
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Trombosis Coronaria , Infarto del Miocardio sin Elevación del ST , Intervención Coronaria Percutánea , Infarto del Miocardio con Elevación del ST , Trombosis , Viscosidad Sanguínea , Angiografía Coronaria , Trombosis Coronaria/complicaciones , Humanos , Infarto del Miocardio sin Elevación del ST/complicaciones , Intervención Coronaria Percutánea/efectos adversos , Estudios Retrospectivos , Infarto del Miocardio con Elevación del ST/complicaciones , Infarto del Miocardio con Elevación del ST/cirugía , Trombosis/etiología , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Electrocardiographic parameters, such as P wave peak time (PWPT), P wave duration (PWD), and P wave amplitude in lead DI, have been utilized to assess left atrial anomalies linked to the development of atrial fibrillation (AF) in different cohort settings. OBJECTIVE: To compare electrocardiographic parameters, such as P waves, in predicting long-term AF risk in acute ischemic stroke cases. METHODS: The data of 231 consecutive acute ischemic stroke cases were retrospectively collected. Two independent cardiologists interpreted the electrocardiography recordings for PWPT, PWD, and P wave amplitude in lead DI. The median follow-up study period was 16 (interquartile range [IQR]: 11-24) months. RESULTS: In total, AF was detected in 43 (18.6%) cases. All studied P wave parameters were found to be statistically significant in cases with AF. Based on multivariable logistic regression analysis, dementia, left atrium volume index, PWD (razão de chances [RC]: 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.058-1.184; p = 0.003), PWPT in lead DII (RC: 1.030; 95%CI: 1.010-1.050; p = 0.003), and advanced interatrial block morphology were independent predictors of long-term AF. P wave duration had the highest area under the curve value, sensitivity, and specificity for long-term AF in such cases compared with the other P wave parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Our head-to-head comparison of well-known P wave parameters demonstrated that PWD might be the most useful P wave parameter for long-term AF in acute ischemic stroke cases.
ANTECEDENTES: Parâmetros eletrocardiográficos, como tempo de pico da onda P (PWPT, na sigla em inglês), duração da onda P (PWD, na sigla em inglês) e amplitude da onda P na derivação DI, têm sido utilizados para avaliar anomalias atriais esquerdas ligadas ao desenvolvimento de fibrilação atrial (FA) em diferentes cenários de coortes. OBJETIVO: Comparar os parâmetros eletrocardiográficos destas ondas P na predição do risco de FA de longo prazo em casos de acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) isquêmico agudo. MéTODOS: Os dados de 231 casos consecutivos de AVC isquêmico agudo foram coletados retrospectivamente. Dois cardiologistas independentes interpretaram os registros eletrocardiográficos para PWPT, PWD e amplitude da onda P na derivação DI. O período médio do estudo de acompanhamento foi de 16 (intervalo interquartil [IQR, na sigla em inglês]: 1124) meses. RESULTADOS: No total, FA foi detectada em 43 (18,6%) casos. Todos os parâmetros da onda P estudados foram considerados estatisticamente significativos nos casos com FA. Com base na análise de regressão logística multivariável, demência, índice de volume do átrio esquerdo, PWD (razão de chances [RC]: 1,112; intervalo de confiança [IC] 95%: 1,0581,184; p = 0,003), PWPT na derivação DII (RC: 1,030; IC95%: 1,0101,050; p = 0,003) e avançada morfologia do bloqueio interatrial foram preditores independentes de FA de longo prazo. A PWD teve a maior área sob o valor da curva, sensibilidade e especificidade para FA de longo prazo em tais casos em comparação com os outros parâmetros da onda P. CONCLUSõES: Nossa comparação direta de parâmetros da onda P bem conhecidos demonstrou que a PWD pode ser o parâmetro da onda P mais útil para FA de longa duração em casos de AVC isquêmico agudo.
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Fibrilación Atrial , Accidente Cerebrovascular Isquémico , Humanos , Fibrilación Atrial/complicaciones , Estudios Retrospectivos , Estudios de Seguimiento , ElectrocardiografíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: There is a limited data about the one-year outcomes of patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). OBJECTIVES: To assess one-year mortality of invasively managed patients with ACS and COVID-19 compared to ACS patients without COVID-19. METHODS: In our investigation, we defined the study time period as April 30 through September 1, 2020. The control groups consisted of ACS patients without COVID-19 at the same time period and ACS patients prior to the pandemic, within the same months as those of the study. COVID-19 infection was confirmed in all participants utilizing real-time polymerase chain reaction testing. RESULTS: This investigation examined 721 ACS participants in total. Among the participants, 119 patients were diagnosed with ACS and COVID-19, while 149 were diagnosed with ACS and without COVID-19. The other 453 ACS participants were diagnosed before the outbreak of the pandemic, within the same months as those of the study. One-year mortality rates were higher in the ACS participants with COVID-19 than in the ACS participants without COVID-19 and the pre-COVID-19 ACS participants (21.3% vs. 6.5% vs. 6.9%, respectively). An ACS along with COVID-19 was the only independent predictor of one-year mortality (HR=2.902, 95%CI=1.211-6.824, P = 0.018). According to the Kaplan-Meier survival curves, patients with ACS and COVID-19 had a lower chance of survival in the short-term and one-year periods. CONCLUSION: This is believed to be the first study to report that ACS patients with COVID-19 had higher one-year risk of mortality compared to ACS patients without COVID-19.
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Síndrome Coronario Agudo , COVID-19 , Síndrome Coronario Agudo/diagnóstico , Síndrome Coronario Agudo/epidemiología , COVID-19/epidemiología , Humanos , PandemiasRESUMEN
A 40-year-old female patient presented to our cardiology department with typical angina of 1 month's duration. The patient was on a combination of valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide for the treatment of hypertension. Electrocardiography showed a normal sinus rhythm with T-wave negativity in the anterior precordial leads. A cardiovascular stress test with the Bruce protocol revealed 2 mm horizontal ST-segment deviation in the inferior and lateral leads. Therefore, the patient was scheduled to undergo coronary angiography (CAG). Before CAG, she was anxious and stressed; hence, intravenous diazepam was administered. CAG, performed via the right femoral artery, demonstrated an insignificant muscular bridge in the mid-portion of the left anterior descending artery (Figure 1A). Twenty minutes after the procedure, the patient felt numbness in her right lower leg and had difficulties in her movements. On physical examination, there was no pulse in the right lower extremity. Because of the presence of the signs and symptoms of acute lower extremity ischemia, an urgent peripheral angiography via the left femoral artery was performed. It illustrated an acute occlusion in the external iliac artery (EIA) (Figure 1B and Video 1). Afterward, intravenous nitroglycerin and unfractionated heparin (5000 U) were given through the right diagnostic catheter. Following this therapy, antegrade blood flow was achieved in the EIA and the signs and symptoms of acute limb ischemia disappeared (Figure 1C and Video 2). Arterial duplex ultrasonography just after this procedure revealed a retrograde arterial dissection flap without significant stenosis (Figure 1D-E and Video 3). In addition, a triphasic blood-flow pattern was observed in the EIA (Figure 1E). During coronary intensive care, intravenous low-dose nitroglycerin and unfractionated heparin were administered for 48 hours. The in-hospital follow-up of the patient was uneventful, and there were no signs and symptoms of peripheral embolism. Arterial duplex ultrasonography, performed 2 weeks after hospital discharge, showed that there was no residual stenosis and that the dissection flap was sealed. Arterial dissection is an infrequent clinical entity encountered during CAG. Remarkably, even though vasospasm and compression to the access site were other contributing factors, acute EIA occlusion due to retrograde dissection is an extremely rare event. As was shown in our case, medical therapy, including intravenous nitroglycerin and unfractionated heparin, could potentially allow the resolution of the total occlusion of the EIA without necessitating percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or stenting.
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OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to compare the value of D-dimer measured on the 3rd day of hospitalization with admission D-dimer level in predicting in-hospital mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. METHOD: In total, 231 patients with COVID-19 disease were included in the study. D-dimer levels were estimated using immunoturbidimetric assay with normal range of 0-500 µg/mL. In the current research, the primary outcome was the in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: In the present research, 39 (16.8%) COVID-19 cases died during the index hospitalization. In a multivariable analysis; age, D-dimer (3rd day) (OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 1.00-1.00, p<0.001), WBC count, and creatinine were independent predictors of the in-hospital death for COVID-19 cases. The ideal value of D-dimer level on the 3rd day of hospitalization was 774 µq/mL (area under curve (AUC): 0.903, 95% CI: 0.836-0.968; p<0.01) with sensitivity of 83.2% and specificity of 83.6%. It was noted that D-dimer level on the 3rd day of hospitalization had a higher sensitivity (83.2% vs 67.6%, respectively) and AUC value than that of D-dimer level on admission (0.903 vs 0.799, respectively). CONCLUSION: The main finding in this investigation was that D-dimer elevation on the 3rd of hospitalization is more sensitive predictor of in-hospital mortality than D-dimer elevation on admission in COVID-19 patients. Even though further investigations are needed to forecast precise prognosis in patients with COVID-19 disease in terms of D-dimer levels, we believe that D-dimer levels on the 3rd day of hospitalization have an enhanced potential to be used as a prognostic marker in routine clinical practice.
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Intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVL) is a rare and benign smooth muscle tumor that arises from intrauterine venules or the myometrium. We herein describe a 49-year-old woman with a history of myomectomy who developed abdominal pain. An intravascular mass with extension to the right atrium was detected in the inferior vena cava. The mass was surgically resected in a single stage under cardiopulmonary bypass. IVL features were indicated by subsequent histopathology. Postoperatively, the patient was diagnosed with massive pericardial effusion and treated with a pericardial window. At 3 months' outpatient clinical follow-up, she was asymptomatic. This case indicates that the diagnosis of IVL with extension to the heart should be kept in mind in patients presenting with abdominal pain.
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OBJECTIVE: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) constitute a significant portion of hip fracture patients, and both diseases tend to present more frequently in older age. Our goal was to evaluate the long-term mortality of patients with AF who were free from heart failure undergoing hip fracture surgery. METHODS: This observational, retrospective study was done in a single research and training hospital setting. Hospital electronic health record data, National Health Registry data, and National Death Registry System data for 233 consecutive patients who were above 65 years of age and were planned to undergo surgery for hip fracture were retrieved and analyzed. An experienced cardiologist evaluated the patients prior to surgery. Each member of the research cohort was categorized into one of the two groups based on their survival status (survivor and non-survivor groups). RESULTS: Of the 233 cases, 89 (38.2%) who were included in the investigation died during the follow-up period. The median long-term follow-up period was 34 (12-42) months. The frequency of AF was significantly higher in the non-survivor group. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, AF (HR: 2.195, 95%CI 1.365-3.415, p<0.001), advanced age, and blood urea level were determined as independent predictors for all-cause long-term mortality. CONCLUSIONS: AF is an independent predictor for long-term death in hip fracture cases above 65 years of age who were free from heart failure.
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Fibrilación Atrial , Insuficiencia Cardíaca , Fracturas de Cadera , Anciano , Fracturas de Cadera/cirugía , Humanos , Estudios Retrospectivos , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: This study examined the possible association between the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and in-hospital mortality rates in cases with a high cardiovascular risk burden and hospitalized with the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective and cross-sectional study included 294 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in a tertiary referral pandemic center. The study cohort was grouped into tertiles based on the initial PNI values as T1, T2, and T3. The PNI was calculated for each case and the prognostic value of this index was compared to CURB-65 and 4C mortality risk scores in predicting in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Patients stratified into the T1 tertile had a lower lymphocyte count, serum albumin level, and PNI values. In a multivariate analysis, the PNI (OR: 0.688,%95CI: 0.586-0.808, p < 0.001) was an independent predictor for all-cause in-hospital death. After adjusting for confounding independent parameters, patients included in the T1 tertile were found to have 11.2 times higher rates of in-hospital mortality compared to the T3 group, which was presumed as the reference group. In addition, we found that the area under curve (AUC) value of PNI was significantly elevated than that of serum albumin level and total lymphocyte counts alone. [(AUC):0.79 vs AUC:0.75 vs AUC:0.69; respectively). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the PNI is independently related with in-hospital mortality in patient with COVID-19 and cardiovascular risk factors. The power of the PNI was also validated using well-accepted risk scores of COVID-19 such as CURB-65 and 4C mortality risk scores.
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COVID-19 , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares , Estudios Transversales , Factores de Riesgo de Enfermedad Cardiaca , Mortalidad Hospitalaria , Humanos , Evaluación Nutricional , Estado Nutricional , Pronóstico , Estudios Retrospectivos , Factores de Riesgo , SARS-CoV-2RESUMEN
Introduction: The objective of the present research was to evaluate the possible association between the N-terminal pro-brain type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels and in-hospital mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia patients who did not have pre-existing heart failure (HF). Methods: A total of 137 consecutive patients without pre-existing HF and hospitalized due to COVID-19 pneumonia were enrolled into the current research. The main outcome of the research was the in-hospital death. The independent parameters linked with the in-hospital death were determined by multivariable analysis. Results: A total of 26 deaths with an in-hospital mortality rate of 18.9% was noted. Those who died were older with an increased frequency of co-morbidities such as hypertension, chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, stroke and dementia. They had also increased white blood cell (WBC) counts and had elevated glucose, creatinine, troponin I, and NT-pro-BNP levels but had decreased levels of hemoglobin. By multivariable analysis; age, NT-pro-BNP, WBC, troponin I, and creatinine levels were independently linked with the in-hospital mortality. After ROC evaluation, the ideal value of the NT-pro-BNP to predict the in-hospital mortality was found as 260 ng/L reflecting a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 93% (AUC:0.86; 95%CI:0.76-0.97). Conclusion: The current research clearly shows that the NT-proBNP levels are independently linked with the in-hospital mortality rates in subjects with COVID-19 pneumonia and without HF. Thus, we believe that this biomarker can be used as a valuable prognostic parameter in such cases.
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INTRODUCTION: The present study aimed to determine independent predictors of left atrial thrombus (LAT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients without atrial fibrillation (AF) using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). METHODS: In this single-center, retrospective study, we enrolled 149 consecutive AIS patients. All of the patients underwent a TEE examination to detect LAT within 10 days following admission. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess independent predictors of LAT. RESULTS: Among all cases, 14 patients (9.3%) had a diagnosis of LAT based on the TEE examination. In a multivariate analysis, elevated mean platelet volume (MPV), low left-ventricle ejection fraction (EF), creatinine, and reduced left-atrium appendix (LAA) peak emptying velocity were independent predictors of LAT. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for MPV was 0.70 (95%CI: 0.57-0.83; p = 0.011). With the optimal cut-off value of 9.45, MPV had a sensitivity of 71.4% and a specificity of 63% to predict LAT. CONCLUSION: AIS patients with low ventricle EF and elevated MPV should undergo further TEE examination to verify the possibility of a cardio-embolic source. In addition, this research may provide novel information with respect to the applicability of MPV to predict LAT in such patients without AF.