Comparative analysis of the addition of empagliflozin versus doubling the furosemide dose in decompensated heart failure.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to compare the addition of SGLT2 inhibitors or doubling the diuretic dose in patients receiving treatment with beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), as well as mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA), for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who present to the emergency department with decompensated heart failure. METHODS: This study is a single-center and prospective analysis. A total of 980 decompensated heart failure (HFrEF) patients receiving optimal medical therapy (OMT) according to the 2021 European heart failure guidelines were randomized in a 2:1 ratio into the furosemide and empagliflozin treatment arms. The analysis includes patient clinical characteristics, laboratory results, and echocardiographic data. Factors influencing rehospitalization were identified through multivariate Cox regression analysis. Log-rank analysis was employed to assess factors affecting rehospitalization. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 67.9 years, with 52.1% being men. There was no significant impact of demographic, clinical, or echocardiographic factors on rehospitalization at 1 month; only the effect of treatment subgroups on rehospitalization was observed (p = 0.039). Significant echocardiographic and clinical improvements were seen in both treatment arms. The empagliflozin group exhibited significant improvements in 6-min walk distance, heart rate, body weight, NT-pro BNP levels, and eGFR level compared to the furosemide group. The rate of rehospitalization in the first month was significantly lower in those receiving empagliflozin (28.7%) compared to those receiving a double dose of furosemide (40.2%) (log-rank p = 0.013). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study provides valuable insights into the management of decompensated HFrEF and demonstrates that SGLT2 inhibitors offer benefits beyond glycemic control in this patient group. The significant reduction in rehospitalization rates and improvements in echocardiographic parameters underscore the potential of SGLT2 inhibitors in reducing acute heart failure episodes.

Comparison of echocardiographic and clinical characteristics in embolic stroke and migraine patients with patent foramen ovale.

BACKGROUND: This single-center observational study aimed to compare the echocardiographic and clinical features in patients diagnosed with migraine and embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) who presented with a known patent foramen ovale (PFO). METHODS: Two-dimensional and color Doppler images were obtained using various transthoracic echocardiography views for both migraine and ESUS patients. Suspected PFO cases underwent further assessment through contrast echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). High-risk PFO characteristics were evaluated using TEE, and the Risk of Paradoxical Embolism (RoPe) score was calculated. RESULTS: The study included 310 participants (age range: 18-60, 73.2% female), with 43.5% diagnosed with migraine and 56.5% with ESUS. Common comorbidities included diabetes (26.1%). High-velocity shunting through the interatrial septum was observed in 35.5% of patients. ESUS patients were older, with higher rates of diabetes and hypertension, while active smoking was more prevalent among migraine patients. Basic echocardiographic parameters were mostly similar, except for elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressure in ESUS. ESUS patients exhibited a greater occurrence of large microbubble passage through the interatrial septum and longer PFO lengths compared to migraine patients. However, the RoPe and High-risk PFO scores were similar between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: ESUS patients, characterized by older age and higher rates of diabetes and hypertension, demonstrated increased pulmonary artery pressure, more significant microbubble crossings, and longer PFO lengths. Conversely, migraine patients had a higher prevalence of active smoking. Despite differing clinical profiles, the risk scores for PFO-related embolic events were comparable between the groups. These findings underscore potential distinctions between ESUS and migraine patients with PFO and their implications for management strategies.

Transcatheter Coil Embolization in 17 Patients with 22 Coronary Artery Fistulas.

Coronary artery fistulas are rare anomalies that often become symptomatic with age. They are typically diagnosed incidentally during coronary angiography. The chief nonsurgical treatment is transcatheter coil embolization. We evaluated the outcomes of this procedure in 17 symptomatic patients who had 22 fistulas in total. The 9 men and 8 women (mean age, 52 ± 16.5 yr; range, 27-74 yr) presented at 4 Turkish hospitals from October 2008 through March 2015. Three patients had multiple fistulas. Twelve fistulas originated from the right coronary artery and 10 from the left coronary artery, draining into the pulmonary artery in 18 instances. We evaluated results postprocedurally and after 2 to 5 months, defining angiographic success as a flow better than Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction grade 2 in the treated artery. Twenty-one of the 22 procedures immediately produced the targeted flow. We observed 2 minor and no major complications. On follow-up, 3 symptomatic patients underwent successful repeat treatment of one fistula each. We found that transcatheter coil embolization afforded good success rates with few complications in closing coronary artery fistulas. We share our experience to add to the data on treating patients with coronary artery fistulas, and to raise awareness among clinicians.

MitraClip Implantation in Younger Patients and Pediatric Populations: 19 Year-Old Patient with Multiple Comorbidities and a Prior Mitral Valve Annuloplasty.

MitraClip is an effective treatment method for severe mitral regurgitation in high-risk populations in terms of reducing morbidity and frequency of hospitalizations. Efficacy and safety of MitraClip device in elderly population have been established, yet there are only 2 case reports of MitraClip implantation in the younger patients, who generally tend to have less surgical risk (Gorenflo et al.; Joffe et al., 2016). We describe a 19-year-old patient with severe mitral regurgitation with prior mitral valve annuloplasty and received MitraClip implantation due to high-surgical risk.

Evaluation of Echocardiographic Epicardial Fat Thickness as a Sign of Cardiovascular Risk in Positive Exercise Test Patients.

BACKGROUND: The association between epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and positive exercise test results for the diagnosis of coronary artery diseases (CAD) has yet to be evaluated. This study assessed the predictive value of EFT for CAD on the angiographs of patients with positive exercise tests. METHODS: A total of 91 subjects were chosen consecutively from stable angina pectoris patients who were referred for coronary angiography due to a positive exercise test result. The EFT measures were obtained by echocardiographic parasternal long-axis views on the free wall of the right ventricle at end-systole of three cardiac cycles. Gensini scores were calculated by a conventional coronary angiography technique using a calculation method previously defined. RESULTS: Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed a 0.65 cm (95% confidence interval: 0.628, 0.832, p < 0.001) area under the curve with 74.3% sensitivity and 62.3% specificity at the cut-off value of EFT for the prediction of critical coronary artery stenosis. Following ROC curve analysis, two groups were defined according to EFT cut-off value (groups 1 and 2). The severe coronary stenosis ratio was significantly higher in group 2 compared to group 1 (31.9 % vs. 11%, p < 0.001) and Gensini scores were significantly higher in group 2 (6.3 ± 13.3 vs. 16.5 ± 17.9; p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between Gensini scores and EFT in group 1 (r = 0.093, p = 0.549), but there was a strong significant correlation in group 2 (r = 0.730, p < 0.001). Linear multivariate regression analysis revealed that EFT (> 0.65 cm) was the only independent risk factor for critical coronary artery stenosis (ß = 0.451, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: EFT was significantly correlated with the severity and prevalence of coronary artery disease in positive exercise test patients.

Deterioration of heart rate recovery index in patients with erectile dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: Heart rate recovery (HHR) after exercise is a function of vagal reactivation. This study aimed to evaluate HHR index in patients with erectile dysfunction. METHODS: Men over the age of 18 years who were diagnosed with erectile dysfunction were included in the study. Ninety patients with erectile dysfunction (mean age=56.1±8.3 years) and 50 healthy subjects as controls (mean age=53.1±10.4 years) were compared. The erectile status of patients was evaluated using the sexual health inventory for men questionnaire. Basal electrocardiography, echocardiography, and treadmill exercise testing were performed in all patients and controls. The HHR index was defined as the reduction in heart rate from the rate at peak exercise to the rate at the first minute (HRR1), second minute (HRR2), third minute (HRR3), and fifth minute (HRR5) after terminating exercise stress testing. An independent sample t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient test, linear multivariate regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were used for statistical assessment. RESULTS: All HHR indices were found to be significantly decreased in patients with erectile dysfunction (p<0.001). Effort capacity was markedly lower (9.1±2.3 vs. 10.4±2.3 METs, p=0.002) among patients with erectile dysfunction. HRR1 and HRR3 were found to be an independent risk factor for erectile dysfunction (Beta=0.462, p<0.001; Beta=0.403, p<0.001; respectively) in linear regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Decreased HHR index may be considered as one of the independent predictors of impaired autonomic function in patients with erectile dysfunction.

Assessment of atrial electromechanical delay and P-wave dispersion in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes mellitus is an independent and strong risk factor for development of atrial fibrillation (AF). Electrophysiologic and electromechanical abnormalities are associated with a higher risk of AF. In this study we aimed to determine the correlation of atrial conduction abnormalities between the surface electrocardiographic and tissue Doppler echocardiographic measurements in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. METHODS: A total of 88 consecutive T2DM patients and 49 age-, gender-, and body mass index-matched healthy volunteers were included in the present study. Baseline characteristics were recorded and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, transthoracic echocardiography, and 12-lead surface electrocardiography were performed for all study participants. Atrial electromechanical delay (EMD) intervals were measured. RESULTS: Maximum P-wave duration and P-wave dispersion (Pd) were significantly higher in patients with T2DM (105.7±10.2ms vs. 102.2±7.5ms, p=0.02; 40.6±7.6ms vs. 33.6±5.9ms, p<0.001, respectively). Interatrial, intraatrial, and intraleft atrial EMD were significantly higher in the T2DM patients when compared with the controls (16.5±7.8ms vs.11.2±4.4ms, p<0.001; 9.0±7.3ms vs. 6.0±3.8ms, p=0.002, and 7.4±5.2ms vs. 5.1±3.2ms, p=0.002 respectively). Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between interatrial EMD and Pd (r=0.429, p<0.001) and left atrial volume (r=0.428, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, there was significant EMD and Pd in patients with T2DM as compared with healthy volunteers. Additionally, interatrial EMD was correlated with Pd and left atrial volume index.

Association between PDW and Long Term Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to perform a preliminary evaluation of the potential association between platelet distribution width (PDW) and frequency of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) development in an observational study of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. METHODS: A total of 679 consecutive patients with ACS (498 (73.3%) males; mean age was 63.31±11.2 years; study population composed of 320 patients with acute myocardial infarction and 359 patients with unstable angina pectoris) subjected to primary percutaneous coronary intervention with transradial approach (TRA) were retrospectively enrolled to the study. Tertiles were formed based on PDW levels. The associations between PDW and in-hospital and long-term MACEs were analysed. RESULTS: The frequencies of in-hospital instent thrombosis (P=0.05), long-term instent restenosis (P=0.005) and long-term total MACEs (P=0.008) were higher in tertiles having a high PDW value. In multivariate analyses, PDW was an independent predictor of in-hospital and long-term MACEs (odds ratio 1.081, 95% confidence interval 1.003-1.165; p=0.042). The projected Kaplan-Meier incidence of a MACEs in the PDW tertiles groups were 12.8%, 12.1%, and 21.6% at 40 months (respectively, p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The pre-procedural PDW may be an independent predictor of both in-hospital and long-term adverse outcomes in patients with ACS.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcome of Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Device Infections in Turkey.

Infection is one of the most devastating outcomes of cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation and is related to significant morbidity and mortality. In our country, there is no evaluation about CIED infection. Therefore, our aim was to investigate clinical characteristics and outcome of patients who had infection related to CIED implantation or replacement. The study included 144 consecutive patients with CIED infection treated at 11 major hospitals in Turkey from 2005 to 2014 retrospectively. We analyzed the medical files of all patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of CIED infection. Inclusion criteria were definite infection related to CIED implantation, replacement, or revision. Generator pocket infection, with or without bacteremia, was the most common clinical presentation, followed by CIED-related endocarditis. Coagulase-negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus were the leading causative agents of CIED infection. Multivariate analysis showed that infective endocarditis and ejection fraction were the strongest predictors of in-hospital mortality.

Renal Drug Dosage Adjustment According to Estimated Creatinine Clearance in Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure.

It is of clinical importance to determine creatinine clearance and adjust doses of prescribed drugs accordingly in patients with heart failure to prevent untoward effects. There is a scarcity of studies in the literature investigating this issue particularly in patients with heart failure, in whom many have impaired kidney function. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of awareness of medication prescription as to creatinine clearance in patients hospitalized with heart failure. Patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of heart failure were retrospectively evaluated. Among screened charts, patients with left ventricular ejection fraction <40% and an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of ≤50 mL/min were included in the analysis. The medications and respective doses prescribed at discharge were recorded. Medications requiring renal dose adjustment were determined and evaluated for appropriate dosing according to eGFR. A total of 388 patients with concomitant heart failure and renal dysfunction were included in the study. The total number of prescribed medications was 2808 and 48.3% (1357 medications) required renal dose adjustment. Of the 1357 medications, 12.6% (171 medications) were found to be inappropriately prescribed according to eGFR. The most common inappropriately prescribed medications were famotidine, metformin, perindopril, and ramipril. A significant portion of medications used in heart failure requires dose adjustment. Our results showed that in a typical cohort of patients with heart failure, many drugs are prescribed at inappropriately high doses according to creatinine clearance. Awareness should be increased among physicians caring for patients with heart failure to prevent adverse events related to medications.

Outcomes of transradial primary percutaneous intervention from a tertiary cardiac centre in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to study transradial approach (TRA) and transfemoral approach (TFA) in terms of feasibility, effectiveness, usefulness, and procedure characteristics in patients having ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Along with the said aim, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at follow-up were also compared. METHODS: The present study was conducted on 344 consecutive patients having ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and qualifying for PCI. Patients were classified into two groups according to radial and femoral approaches. Patients were followed-up for MACE. RESULTS: PCI was found to be successful in all patients. In TRA group the time between the end of the intervention to removal of the sheath, and duration of mobilization and hospitalization were significantly shorter when compared to TFA group (12 ± 2 minutes vs. 240 ± 12 minutes; P = 0.001, 13 ± 2 hours vs. 22 ± 2 hours; P = 0.001, and 96 ± 45 hours vs. 125 ± 55 hours; P = 0.001, respectively). In TRA group, two patients had hematomas greater than 2 cm while fourteen patients in TFA group had hematomas greater than 5 cm (1% vs. 8%; P = 0.002). TRA group had lower in-hospital MACE rates (5% vs. 11%; P = 0.036). The long terms MACE rates of the groups were similar (23% vs. 22%; P = 0.888). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with STEMI, PCI via TRA had the same effectiveness as TFA. Moreover, Time to ambulation and rates of bleeding complications were reduced by TRA, which allowed early rehabilitation. TRA reduced the incidence of in-hospital MACEs.

Is it a typical crosstalk: Need for re-implantation?

With constantly evolving technology and an ever-increasing number of patients with pacemakers, clinicians will encounter various pacemaker malfunctions in their practice. While some of these issues can be solved even by using only the pacemaker׳s mode settings, others require re-intervention; neglecting a pacemaker׳s malfunction without full investigation threatens the patient׳s life. In this report, we describe a patient with a dual-chamber pacemaker with neglected or unresolved dyssynchronization that occurred 2 years after implantation.

Thoracic periaortic adipose tissue is increased in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate thoracic periaortic adipose tissue (TAT) volume in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) in comparison with controls and in relation to cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: The study population consisted of 28 newly diagnosed SH patients (mean (s.d.) age: 37.3 (±11.4) years, 85.7% were females) and 37 healthy volunteers (mean (s.d.) age: 35.3 (±10.7) years, 81.5% were females). Comparisons between patient and control groups used demographic characteristics, anthropometrics, and laboratory findings. All participants underwent thoracic radiographic assessment in the supine position, using an eight-slice multidetector computed tomography scanner and TAT volume was measured. RESULTS: The TAT volume was determined to be 27.2 (±12.7) cm(3) in the SH group and 16.3 (±8.1) cm(3) in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). In addition, TSH levels were significantly higher in the patient group compared with the control group (P<0.001). A significant correlation was also found between TSH levels and TAT volume (r=0.572; P<0.001). In SH patients, no significant difference was noted in TAT levels with respect to sex (P=0.383) or concomitant smoking status (P=0.426). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that SH patients have significantly higher TAT values than controls and that increased TAT levels correlate with increased TSH levels.

The association between thoracic periaortic fat and major adverse cardiovascular events.

AIM: The study aimed to examine the association between thoracic periaortic fat tissue volume and the long-term incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 433 consecutive patients (372 male and 61 female). Periaortic fat tissue volume was measured via electrocardiogram-gated 64-multidetector computed tomography. The patients were evaluated on an average 3 years of follow-up for major adverse cardiovascular events. The patients were divided into groups according to the presence of major adverse cardiovascular events. RESULTS: Major adverse cardiovascular events were noted in 44 (10.2 %) patients during follow-up. Periaortic fat tissue volume was significantly higher in the major adverse cardiovascular events (+) group (35.4 ± 26.1 cm(3) vs. 24.1 ± 14.9 cm(3), P = 0.001). The logistic regression model showed that periaortic fat tissue volume (hazard ratio: 1.03; 95 % CI: 1.01-1.05; P = 0.001), the glomerular filtration rate (hazard ratio: 0.98; 95 % CI: 0.96-0.99; P = 0.03), and male gender (hazard ratio: 4.76; 95 % CI: 1.08-20.90; P = 0.04) were independent predictors of major adverse cardiovascular events. CONCLUSION: Thoracic periaortic fat tissue volume may be considered a useful new parameter for predicting major adverse cardiovascular events.