The association of hemodynamic markers of right ventricular dysfunction with SII index and clinical outcomes in reduced ejection fraction heart failure.

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome with various etiologies and presentations. The role of the inflammatory pathway in HF prognosis is not fully understood. We investigated the association between the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and HF complicated by right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) and whether the SII is related to compromised hemodynamic volume status. A total of 235 patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) were enrolled and divided into 2 groups according to the presence of RVD. The relationship between the SII score, hemodynamic parameters, and clinical endpoints was evaluated. Higher SII scores and neutrophil counts (P < .001 and P = .017, respectively) were observed in the RVD group (n = 120). In the high SII score group (≥590.4), hospitalization and the need for positive inotrope treatment were significantly higher (P = .026 and P = .009, respectively), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was significantly lower (P = .015). In addition, in the high SII score group, right heart catheterization values, including cardiac output and index, were significantly impaired compared with those in the lower SII score group. There was a significant negative correlation between the SII score and the LVEF, cardiac output, and cardiac index in the correlation analyses. A significant relationship was observed between indirect inflammation and RVD in patients with HFrEF. The hemodynamic volume status and functional capacity were impaired in patients with high SII scores. These results indicated that advanced HF with worse outcomes may be related to the inflammatory process.

The association between CHA2DS2-VASc score and aortic valve sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Antithrombotic therapy in atrial fibrillation is generally managed with the CHA2DS2-VASc score. Aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) is a focal thickening of the aortic valve without a restriction of motion. AVS is related to several cardiovascular risk factors. Our study was performed to evaluate whether the presence of AVS was associated with the CHA2DS2-VASc score. METHODS: This cross-sectional, observational study comprised 411 patients with AVS grades 1-3 [AVS (+)] and 102 patients with AVS grade 0 [AVS (-)]. We compared CHA2DS2-VASc scores between the AVS (+) and AVS (-) groups. RESULTS: We determined that the AVS (+) group had a higher CHA2DS2-VASc score than the AVS (-) group [3 (0-8) vs 1 (0-4), p < 0.001) ]. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the CHA2DS2-VASc score was found to be higher in patients with AVS than in those without AVS. AVS may predict cardiovascular risk in the general population.

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.

Predictive Value of Resting Fractional Flow Reserve and Atherogenic Index of Plasma for Evaluation of Physiologically Significant Coronary Artery Lesions.

This study aimed to assess the relationship between the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and resting distal-to-aortic pressure ratio (Pd/Pa) in patients with intermediate coronary artery stenosis. This retrospective study included 802 chronic coronary syndrome patients with intermediate coronary artery stenosis who underwent fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement. The resting Pd/Pa showed a significant negative correlation with AIP (rho= -.205, p < .001). When final FFR was divided into three tertiles (≤80, 81-89, ≥90), resting Pd/Pa was significantly lower, and AIP was markedly higher in the lower final FFR tertiles (both AIP and resting Pd/Pa differed significantly across the all three tertiles, p < .001). Furthermore, functionally significant stenosis independent predictors in multivariate analyses were AIP and resting Pd/Pa (p = .010 and p < .001, respectively). We observed for the first time an increase in AIP levels in the presence of functionally significant stenoses that may help better planning and identification of those patients with the functionally substantial atherosclerotic burden.

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.

Evaluation of Acquired Thrombocytopenia According to the Balloon-Expandable Versus Self-Expandable Valves in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

In patients with severe aortic stenosis, the data about the incidence of acquired thrombocytopenia according to the use of balloon-expandable or self-expandable valves are limited. We investigated the relationship between the post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) thrombocytopenia and the balloon-expandable or self-expandable valves. A total of 127 consecutive patients who underwent TAVR were retrospectively analyzed. Among the study population, 61 (48%) patients underwent TAVR with the balloon-expandable valve and the 66 (52%) patients with the self-expandable valve. Procedural success did not differ between the groups (P = .575). The access site complications and in-hospital mortality were the same across the groups (P = .225 and P = .466). However, paravalvular (PV) leaks were significantly higher in the self-expandable valve group (P = .007). Among all, 65 patients experienced thrombocytopenia, which was more frequent in the self-expandable valve group (63.6 vs 37.7%, P = .005). In multivariate analyses, admission platelet count, PV leak, and self-expandable valve deployment were the predictors of thrombocytopenia (P = .001, P = .002, and P = .021, respectively). The present study showed a higher incidence of acquired thrombocytopenia in the self-expandable valve group. Although the procedural success was similar between the groups, postprocedural PV leaks were more common in the self-expandable valve group.

The impact of admission cystatin C levels on in-hospital and three-year mortality rates in acute decompensated heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Although tremendous advances have been made in preventative and therapeutic approaches in heart failure (HF), the hospitalisation and mortality rates for patients with HF is high. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between cystatin C and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels and in- and out-of-hospital mortality rates in acute decompensated HF (ADHF). METHODS: Between February 2008 and November 2011, 57 consecutive patients who were admitted with ADHF were included in this prospective study. These patients were clinically followed up every three months by means of visits or telephone interviews. The primary clinical endpoint of this study was any death from heart failure rehospitalisation and/or other causes. RESULTS: The subjects who died during the in-hospital follow up were younger than the survivors (47.4 ± 17.5 vs 60.8 ± 15.8, p = 0.043). There was a notable correlation between plasma cystatin C and NT-proBNP levels (r = 0.324, p = 0.014) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (r = -0.638, p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that only cystatin C level [odds ratio (OR): 12.311, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.616-93.764, p = 0.015] and age [OR: 0.925, 95% CI: 0.866-0.990, p = 0.023] were linked to in-hospital mortality rate. In the multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, only admission sodium level appeared as a significant independent predictor of death during the 36-month follow up [hazard ratio: 0.937, 95% CI: 0.880-0.996, p = 0.037]. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of admission cystatin C levels may provide a reliable prediction of in-hospital mortality, compared to estimated GFR or NT-proBNP levels among patients with ADHF. However, in this trial, during long-term follow up, only admission sodium level significantly predicted death.

Musculoskeletal pain and related factors in coronary artery disease: An observational cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: In patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD), we aimed to determine the characteristics and risk factors of co-occurring musculoskeletal pain and examine its effects on functional capacity, psychological status and health-related quality of life. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 100 patients with (n= 50) and without (n= 50) musculoskeletal pain were enrolled. All patients were assessed on sociodemographic and clinical properties. The Duke Activity Status Index (DASI), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) were applied as clinical assessment scales. RESULTS: Patients with musculoskeletal pain were mostly female, and had a lower education level and annual income. The pain was mostly nociceptive, intermittent, sharp/stabbing in character, and located in the chest and spine. Having musculoskeletal pain resulted in lower levels on the DASI and all subgroups of the SF-36, and higher levels on the HADS. Female gender, lower education level and severity of emotional distress proved to be independent risk factors for the development of musculoskeletal pain. CONCLUSIONS: In CAD, the co-occurrence of musculoskeletal pain leads to a further decrease in health-related quality of life and functional status, and increased severity of anxiety and depression. This stresses the importance of the detection and optimal treatment of musculoskeletal pain in patients diagnosed with CAD.

Relation Between TRCA Complication Rates and Peak ACT Levels Stratified According to the BMI Tertiles.

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of the fixed dose of 5000 IU unfractionated heparin (UFH) represented as peak activated clotting time (ACT) according to the body mass index (BMI) tertiles in patients undergoing diagnostic transradial coronary angiography (TRCA). A total of 422 patients were included in the present study, 84 in the normal weight group, 218 in the overweight group, and the 120 in the grades 1 and 2 obesity groups. Radial artery occlusion (RAO) was observed in 29 (6.8%) patients and the hematoma was observed in 43 (10.1%) patients. The rate of RAO and hematoma did not differ across the BMI tertiles ( P = .749 and P = .066). Also, peak ACT and procedure duration did not differ between the study groups ( P = .703 and P = .999). The only independent predictor of hematoma was sheath/radial artery diameter ( P = .011) and the independent predictors for RAO were peak ACT, sheath/radial artery diameter, and procedure duration ( P = .001, P = .028, and P < .001, respectively). In conclusion, a fixed dose of 5000 IU UFH is safe and effective regardless of the BMI in diagnostic TRCA procedure.

Comparison of the predictive accuracy of four different ECG algorithms in identification of true ablation site for the idiopathic right ventricular outflow tract tachycardias.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the accuracy of four algorithms in prediction of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) tachycardias in patients who successfully underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation. METHODS: Four algorithms; two with easy-applicability and having a memorable design (Dixit and Joshi), and two with more complex and detailed design (Ito and Zhang) were compared according to the predictive accuracy. RESULTS: Among 99 patients (mean age 36.5 ± 8.5 years, 39.4% male), there were 51 (51.5%) septal-located and 48 (48.5%) free-wall located RVOT tachycardia. Comparison of the predictive accuracy of the algorithms showed that Zhang (91.9%) was the best algorithm for prediction of either septal or free-wall located tachycardia. The second best algorithm was the Ito (77.7%) compared to Dixit (75.8%) and Joshi (70.7%). CONCLUSION: In patients with RVOT tachycardia, algorithms with a detailed design may predict the arrhythmia location better than the easy-applicable algorithms.