Empagliflozin and Dapagliflozin Therapies Favorably Alter QRS-T Angle and Cardiac Repolarization Parameters in Patients with Heart Failure.

Recent randomized clinical trials demonstrated that treatment with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) reduces the risk of cardiac mortality due to sudden cardiac death and progressive pump failure in patients with heart failure (HF). Mechanisms underlying the potential anti-arrhythmic effects of SGLT2is are not well understood. We aimed to examine the effect of SGLT2i treatment on the frontal-plane QRS-T (f[QRS-T]) angle, a novel marker of myocardial repolarization and an independent predictor of adverse cardiac outcomes. The study included 106 patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who received an SGLT2i, empagliflozin, or dapagliflozin. All study participants underwent screening 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) before and ∼90 days after treatment. We compared ECG repolarization parameters before and after treatment. During study enrollment, there were statistically significant decreases in the Tp-e/QT ratio (P ≤ .0001), Tp-e/corrected QT ratio (P = .0002), Tp-e interval (P < .0001), and f(QRS-T) angle (P = .04) in response to SGLT2i therapy. In addition, study participants experienced an improvement in functional capacity (2.06 ± 0.6 vs. 1.82 ± 0.6, P = .0001) and reduced N-terminal pro-b-type natriuretic peptide values. In this retrospective cohort study, SGLT2i therapy was associated with improved cardiac repolarization parameters in patients with HFrEF. More comprehensive studies are needed to evaluate the impact of SGLT2i on cardiac repolarization and its potential relation to cardiac arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death risk.

Baseline coronary artery stenosis severity is an independent predictor of subsequent poor sleep quality in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

AIM: To investigate the relationship between coronary artery lesion severity determined using the baseline SYNTAX score and sleep problems that might occur after discharge determined using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). METHODS: This prospective study included patients with first acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who underwent percutaneous coronary angiography between February 2019 and August 2019. The severity of coronary artery stenosis was classified according to coronary angiography and SYNTAX scores. Patients were grouped as those with a SYNTAX score of ≤22 and >22. Sleep quality after discharge was classified according to the PSQI. PSQI ≤5 represented good sleep quality, and PSQI >5 represented poor sleep quality. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the relationship between sleep quality and coronary artery stenosis severity. RESULTS: A total of 424 patients were included in the study. Of these, 294 (69.34%) had a SYNTAX score of ≤22 and 130 (30.66%) had a SYNTAX score of >22. The mean age of all patients was 60.37 ±â€…12.23 years, 59.69 ±â€…11.85 years in the SYNTAX ≤22 groups and 61.90 ±â€…12.98 years in the SYNTAX >22 group (P = 0.086). The majority (78.54%) of the patients were male and there was no significant difference between the SYNTAX ≤22 group and the SYNTAX >22 group in terms of sex distribution (P = 0.383). According to the univariate logistic regression analysis, age (P = 0.014), diabetes (P = 0.027), left ventricular ejection fraction (P = 0.001), estimated glomerular filtration rate (P = 0.039), creatine kinase MB (P = 0.040) and SYNTAX scores (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with high PSQI global scores (>5). However, according to the multivariate logistic regression analysis results, high (>22) SYNTAX scores were the only factor independently associated with the high (>5) PSQI global scores [odds ratio, 3.477; 95% confidence interval (CI), (2.190-5.522); P < 0.001]. Complete revascularization group had significantly higher sleep latency and sleep duration time, sleep efficiency and the percentage of patients with PSQI global score of ≤5 than the incomplete revascularization group (P < 0.001 for all). CONCLUSION: Among patients with ACS, those with high SYNTAX scores should be monitored more carefully for sleep disorders that may occur later.

The Relationship between Amount of Air Supplied to Radial Artery Compression Device Used after Transradial Procedure and Radial Artery Stenosis.

Background: Transradial access (TRA) is accepted as the safest route for coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention. Radial artery stenosis (RAS) prevents use of the radial artery in various clinical situations, even in cases without hand ischemia. In this context, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between the amount of air supplied to the radial artery compression device [transradial (TR) band] and RAS. Methods: The population in this single-center retrospective study consisted of patients who underwent CAG via TRA under elective conditions between March 1st, 2020 and May 1st, 2022. Of these patients, 111 who met the study inclusion criteria were included in the study. Results: The rate of RAS was significantly higher among the patients with a TR band inflated with 18 ml of air compared to those with a TR band inflated with 12 ml of air (19.6%-3.6%; p = 0.009). Univariable logistic regression analysis revealed that the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and amount of air supplied to the TR band were significantly associated with RAS. Further analysis of these variables with multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that both MCV and the amount of air supplied to the TR band were independent predictors of RAS (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The findings of the study revealed that the amount of air supplied to the TR band after CAG via TRA was an independent predictor for the development of RAS.

The Relationship between CHA2DS2-VASc Score and Reperfusion Success in Elective Percutaneous Saphenous Vein Graft Interventions

Abstract Background Patients with degenerated saphenous vein grafts (SVG) have a higher risk of developing no-reflow. The CHA2DS2-VASc score was established as a no-reflow predictor in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Objectives In our study, we aimed to assess the association between CHA2DS2-VASc score and no-reflow after the procedure and short-term mortality in patients with SVG who underwent elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods Our retrospective study comprised 118 patients who were divided into two groups according to the occurrence of the no-reflow phenomenon. The groups were compared on the basis of demographic characteristics, angiographic parameters, CHA2DS2-VASc scores, and outcome. A logistic regression analysis was additionally performed to determine the predictors of no-reflow. A p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Mean age of the participants was 66.4 ± 9.2 years, and 25.4% of them were female. Apart from the history of diabetes (p = 0.032), demographic data, blood parameters, ejection fraction, total stent length and diameter, medication use, median CHA2DS2-VASc score, and adverse cardiac events did not differ between the groups. In univariate logistic regression analysis, the presence of diabetes and stent length appeared to be associated with no-reflow, but not in multivariate analysis. The median CHA2DS2-VASc score was higher in non-survivors at 1-year follow-up (4.5 versus 3, p = 0.047). Conclusions In our study, we did not observe a significant relationship between no-reflow and CHA2DS2-VASc score. Larger studies are needed to reveal the indicators of improved post-intervention reperfusion in elective SVG PCI.

CRP Albumin Ratio May Predict No Reflow in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Saphenous Vein Graft Stenosis.

Many hypotheses have been proposed to explain no-reflow (NR). Some of these hypotheses, state that NR may be caused by damage to the vascular endothelium and an inflammatory process. In a recent study that did not include patients with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), the ratio of C-reactive protein (CRP) to albumin (CAR) was found to be associated with NR. Our study aims to evaluate the relationship between CAR and NR in patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for saphenous vein graft (SVG). In this retrospective study, among the patients with CABG who underwent primary or elective coronary angiography, 242 patients who underwent PCI to the SVG were selected. The incidence of NR was 19.8% (n = 48). Diabetes mellitus, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), stent length, and CAR were found as independent predictors of NR in multivariate logistic regression analysis (P < .05). Using a cut-off level of .930, the CAR predicted NR with a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 73% (AUC: .814, 95% CI: .749-.879, P < .001). The CAR was a better predictor than both stent length and LVEF. CAR was found to be the strongest predictor of NR in our study.

Quantitative assessment of left atrial functions by speckle tracking echocardiography in hypertensive patients with and without retinopathy.

PURPOSE: The association between hypertensive retinopathy and left atrial (LA) impairment is unknown. Accordingly, it was aimed to investigate the possible relationship between hypertensive retinopathy and LA phasic functions by means of two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE). METHODS: A total of 124 hypertensive patients and 27 control subjects were included in the study. LA reservoir strain (LAS-S ), LA conduit strain (LAS-E ), and LA booster strain (LAS-A ) parameters were used to evaluate LA myocardial functions. RESULTS: Hypertensive patients (with and without retinopathy) displayed an obvious reduction in the LA reservoir strain (LAS-S ), and LA conduit strain (LAS-E ). Moreover, further impairment in LA reservoir and conduit strain was found in patients with hypertensive retinopathy than in the isolated hypertensive patients. There were no significant differences in LA booster strain (LAS-A ) among the three groups. Impaired LAS-S (OR: 0.764, CI: 0.657-0.888, and p < 0.001), LAS-E (OR: 0.754, CI: 0.634-0.897, and p = 0.001), and hypertension (HT) duration (OR: 2.345, CI: 1.568-3.507, and p < 0.001) were shown to be independent predictors of hypertensive retinopathy. CONCLUSION: Impaired LA reservoir and conduit strain may be used to predict hypertensive patients at higher risk of developing hypertensive retinopathy, and to determine which patients should be followed more closely for hypertensive retinopathy.

Association of CHA2DS2-VASc score with thrombus burden in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing SVG-PCI.

BACKGROUND: The rate of saphenous vein graft (SVG) occlusion within the first year of bypass graft surgery is 15%. The CHA2DS2-VASc score is used to predict the risk of thromboembolic events in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. We aimed to evaluate the predictive role of the CHA2DS2-VASc score in the estimation of intracoronary thrombus burden in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who underwent SVG-PCI. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 221 patients who were admitted with AMI and underwent PCI of SVGs at the Department of Cardiology in the Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital between 2012 and 2018. The study population was divided into two groups according to their Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) thrombus grade: low thrombus burden (LTB; TIMI 0-3) and high thrombus burden (HTB; TIMI 4 and 5). RESULTS: The study included 221 patients with a mean age of 63.3 ± 6.7 years. The patients with HTB had significantly higher CHA2DS2-VASc scores (p < 0.001) compared with LTB patients. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that both CHA2DS2-VASc score (OR: 1.573, 95% CI: 1.153-2.147, p = 0.004) as a continuous variable and a binary cut-off level of the CHA2DS2-VASc score > 3 (OR: 3.876, 95% CI: 1.705-8.808, p = 0.001) were significantly associated with HTB. The ability of the CHA2DS2-VASc score to predict HTB burden was evaluated by receiver-operating characteristics analysis curve analysis. The optimum cut-off value of the CHA2DS2-VASc score for predicting HTB was 3 (with a sensitivity of 67.9% and a specificity of 69.3%) according to the Youden index. CONCLUSION: The CHA2DS2-VASc score can be used as an easy practical tool to predict HTB in AMI patients undergoing SVG-PCI.