Gender-related clinical and management differences in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

AIM: Gender-related differences have been described in the clinical characteristics and management of patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, published data are conflictive in this regard. METHODS: We investigated differences in clinical and management variables between male and female patients from the ATA study, a prospective, multicentre, observational study that included 1462 outpatients with chronic HFrEF between January and June 2019. RESULTS: Study population was predominantly male (70.1%). In comparison to men, women with chronic HFrEF were older (66 ± 11 years vs 69 ± 12 years, P < .001), suffered more hospitalisations and presented more frequently with NYHA class III or IV symptoms. Ischaemic heart disease was more frequent in men, whereas anaemia, thyroid disease and depression were more frequent in women. No difference was seen between genders in the use rate of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, beta-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, or ivabradine, or in the proportion of patients achieving target doses of these drugs. Regarding device therapies, men were more often treated with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and women received more cardiac resynchronisation therapy. CONCLUSION: In summary, although management seemed to be equivalent between genders, women tended to present with more symptoms, require hospitalisation more frequently and have different comorbidities than men. These results highlight the importance of gender-related differences in HFrEF and call for further research to clarify the causes of these disparities. Gender-specific recommendations should be included in future guidelines in HFrEF.

Adherence to guideline-directed medical and device Therapy in outpAtients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: The ATA study.

OBJECTIVE: Despite recommendations from heart failure guidelines on the use of pharmacologic and device therapy in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), important inconsistencies in guideline adherence persist in practice. The aim of this study was to assess adherence to guideline-directed medical and device therapy for the treatment of patients with chronic HFrEF (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40%). METHODS: The Adherence to guideline-directed medical and device Therapy in outpAtients with HFrEF (ATA) study is a prospective, multicenter, observational study conducted in 24 centers from January 2019 to June 2019. RESULTS: The study included 1462 outpatients (male: 70.1%, mean age: 67±11 years, mean LVEF: 30%±6%) with chronic HFrEF. Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors, beta-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and ivabradin were used in 78.2%, 90.2%, 55.4%, and 12.1% of patients, respectively. The proportion of patients receiving target doses of medical treatments was 24.6% for RAS inhibitors, 9.9% for beta-blockers, and 10.5% for MRAs. Among patients who met the criteria for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), only 16.9% of patients received an ICD (167 of 983) and 34% (95 of 279) of patients underwent CRT (95 of 279). CONCLUSION: The ATA study shows that most HFrEF outpatients receive RAS inhibitors and beta-blockers but not MRAs or ivabradin when the medical reasons for nonuse, such as drug intolerance or contraindications, are taken into account. In addition, most eligible patients with HFrEF do not receive target doses of pharmacological treatments or guideline-recommended device therapy.

[Lipid profile, familial hypercholesterolemia prevalence, and 2-year cardiovascular outcome assessment in acute coronary syndrome: Real-life data of a retrospective cohort]. / Akut koroner sendrom olgularinda iki yillik kardiyovasküler sonlanim degerlendirmesi, lipit profili ve ailevi hiperkolesterolemi sikligi: Bir geriye dönük kohorta ait gerçek yasam verileri.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective study based on real-life data was to evaluate the lipid profile and demographic, clinical, and laboratory features of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) at a tertiary center and to examine the mortality rate. METHODS: Information including endpoint data for at least 2 years following the index ACS event was retrieved from hospital records. Patients without sufficient follow-up data were called by phone. Modified Dutch Lipid Clinic Network criteria were used to identify the presence of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Factors affecting mortality in the 2-year follow-up period were evaluated using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 985 ACS patients (215 females) between 21 and 93 years of age were included. The females were older and had a lower smoking rate than the males. In females, the history of obesity and hypertension, the diabetes rate, and the thyroid-stimulating hormone level were higher than those of the males. In 95.6% of the patients, lipid parameters were measured upon hospital admission. No significant difference in dyslipidemia frequency was observed between genders. The frequency of FH was 7.6%. The rate of lipid-lowering drug use was <20% at admission, >90% at discharge, and decreased to 50% in the follow-up period. The mortality rate was 3.8% in the in-hospital period and 8.1% during the 2 years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: The mortality rate in ACS patients was 3.8% in the in-hospital period and 8.1% in the 2-year follow-up period. The frequency of hypercholesterolemia was 89.5% and the rate of lipid-lowering drug use was insufficient. Secondary prevention after ACS was not adequately employed even at a tertiary center. The FH frequency was 7.6% and those with FH were observed to have ACS at a younger age than those without.

[Genetic, cellular and molecular mechanisms of pulmonary arterial hypertension]. / Pulmoner arteriyel hipertansiyonda genetik, hücresel ve moleküler mekanizmalar.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is an uncommon disorder that may be hereditable, idiopathic or associated with conditions like drug exposure, connective tissue disease, HIV infection or congenital heart disease. Familial disease are usually due to mutations in the bone morphogenic protein receptor type 2 (BMPR2), activin-like kinase-type 1 (ALK1) and endoglin (ENG). Functional and structural changes in the pulmonary vasculature lead to increased pulmonary vascular resistance. Vascular remodeling involves endothelial dysfunction, activation of fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells and recruitment of circulating progenitor cells. Vasoconstriction has also been shown to affect the remodeling process. Genetics, cellular and molecular basis of PAH are discussed in the paper.