A cross-sectional study determining prevalence and factors associated with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction in Iran: results from fasa registry on acute myocardial infarction (FaRMI).

BACKGROUND: Acute myocardial infarction is still a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for roughly three million deaths yearly. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Non-ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted using the databases of the Fasa Registry on Acute Myocardial Infarction (FaRMI) and the Fasa Adult Cohort Study (FACS). chi-squared and one-way ANOVA tests were utilized to calculate the unadjusted associations between the study variables. A multivariate multinomial logistic regression model was also employed to determine the adjusted association of each independent variable with the risk of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). RESULTS: The prevalence of STEMI and non-STEMI was 31.60% and 11.80%, respectively. Multinomial logistic regression showed that older age, anemia, high WBC, and high creatinine levels were associated with higher odds of STEMI and non-STEMI compared to healthy individuals. In addition, based on the analysis being a woman(OR = 0.63,95%CI:0.51-0.78), anemia(OR = 0.67,95%CI:0.54-0.63)and hypertension (OR = 0.80,95%CI:0.65-0.97)decreased the likelihood of STEMI occurrence compared to non-STEMI, while high WBC(OR = 1.19,95%CI:1.15-1.23)increased the odds. CONCLUSION: In this study, significant predictors of MI risk included age, gender, anemia, lipid profile, inflammation, and renal function. Subsequent investigations ought to prioritize the comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms that drive these connections and assess the effectiveness of specific interventions aimed at diminishing the occurrence of MI and improving patient outcomes.

Predicting the risk of mortality and rehospitalization in heart failure patients: A retrospective cohort study by machine learning approach.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is a global problem, affecting more than 26 million people worldwide. This study evaluated the performance of 10 machine learning (ML) algorithms and chose the best algorithm to predict mortality and readmission of HF patients by using The Fasa Registry on Systolic HF (FaRSH) database. HYPOTHESIS: ML algorithms may better identify patients at increased risk of HF readmission or death with demographic and clinical data. METHODS: Through comprehensive evaluation, the best-performing model was used for prediction. Finally, all the trained models were applied to the test data, which included 20% of the total data. For the final evaluation and comparison of the models, five metrics were used: accuracy, F1-score, sensitivity, specificity and Area Under Curve (AUC). RESULTS: Ten ML algorithms were evaluated. The CatBoost (CAT) algorithm uses a series of decision tree models to create a nonlinear model, and this CAT algorithm performed the best of the 10 models studied. According to the three final outcomes from this study, which involved 2488 participants, 366 (14.7%) of the patients were readmitted to the hospital, 97 (3.9%) of the patients died within 1 month of the follow-up, and 342 (13.7%) of the patients died within 1 year of the follow-up. The most significant variables to predict the events were length of stay in the hospital, hemoglobin level, and family history of MI. CONCLUSIONS: The ML-based risk stratification tool was able to assess the risk of 5-year all-cause mortality and readmission in patients with HF. ML could provide an explicit explanation of individualized risk prediction and give physicians an intuitive understanding of the influence of critical features in the model.

Exploring the challenges to using telecardiology as perceived by pre-hospital emergency care personnel: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Today, using the medical technology of telecardiology, as part of advanced medical services, plays an essential role in providing care to cardiac patients in life-threatening conditions who need emergency care. However, pre-hospital emergency care personnel are faced with certain challenges in using telecardiology, with adverse effects on their performance. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the challenges to using telecardiology as viewed by pre-hospital emergency care personnel in Southern Iran. METHODS: The present study is a qualitative work of research with a content analysis approach. Selected using purposeful sampling, 19 pre-hospital emergency care personnel were interviewed on a semi-structured, personal, in-depth basis. The qualitative data obtained were analyzed using the Graneheim and Lundman's conventional content analysis approach (2004). RESULTS: Based on the qualitative data analysis, 3 themes and 8 subthemes were obtained. The three main themes included professional barriers (lack of clinical knowledge of telecardiology, lack of clinical skill in telecardiology, violation of patients' privacy, lack of clinical guidelines on telecardiology), medical equipment and telecommunication barriers (poor reception and ineffective means of communication, low charge on the battery of tele-electrocardiogram machines), and organizational management barriers (serious lack of cardiologists available for medical counseling and lack of continual personal development of the telecardiology personnel). CONCLUSION: Senior managers in pre-hospital emergency care services are recommended to use the results of this study to identify the influential factors in using telecardiology and take the necessary measures to eliminate the existing barriers toward making optimal use of telemedicine, thereby improving the quality of care provided for cardiac patients.

The association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and corrected QT interval prolongation among generally healthy Iranian population: Fasa Cohort Study (FACS).

BACKGROUND: There are limited studies about the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation worldwide. HYPOTHESIS: Therefore, we designed the current study to determine this association in a large cohort of a generally healthy population. METHODS: We analyzed the data of 4603 individuals aged 35-70 who participated in the Fasa Cohort Study (FACS). Based on 12-lead electrocardiograms, QT intervals were calculated and corrected by Bazzet's formula. A QTc interval of more than 430 ms in men and 450 ms in women was considered prolonged. The Fatty Liver Index was used to identify the participants with NAFLD. RESULTS: Of all participants, 1550 (33.6%) met the NAFLD criteria. In subjects of both genders with NAFLD, the mean values of the QTc interval were considerably higher than in those without NAFLD (p < .001). After adjusting for a wide range of confounders, including age, gender, smoking status, physical activity, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels, diabetes, and hypertension status, in linear regression analysis, the standardized ß coefficient of QTc interval among participants with NAFLD was 2.56 ms (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.49-4.64). After controlling the same confounders, the odds ratio of NAFLD for a prolonged QTc interval in men was 1.47 (95% CI: 1.18-1.84; p < .001) and in women was 1.39 (95% CI: 1.15-1.68; p < .001) using logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: NAFLD was a risk factor for QTc interval prolongation. Awareness about the risk of NAFLD in increasing the potential cardiac arrhythmias should be raised to lower cardiac mortality.

Effect of the Implementation of Interdisciplinary Discharge Planning on Treatment Adherence and Readmission in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Angioplasty.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of interdisciplinary discharge planning on treatment adherence and readmission in the patients undergoing coronary artery angioplasty in the south of Iran in 2020. METHODS: This experimental study had an intervention group and a control group with pre-test and post-test. 70 patients participated in the study who were randomly divided into the groups (intervention group (n=35) and control group (n=35)). In the intervention group, discharge planning was performed based on an interdisciplinary approach. Treatment adherence before, immediately, and one month after the intervention was evaluated with a 10-question survey scored from 1 to 5 (maximum score = 50), as well as readmission three months after the discharge was examined in both groups. RESULTS: Before the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference between the intervention and the control groups in the treatment adherence score (18.22 versus 17.37; p=0.84) but immediately and one month after the intervention statistically significant differences between the groups were showed (21.51 versus 46.14 and 23.28 versus 43.12, respectively; p<0.001). Within three months after discharge, the readmission rate was 11.4% in the control group, while no readmission was reported in the intervention group. Within three months after discharge, the readmission rate was 11.4% in the control group, while no readmission was reported in the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of interdisciplinary discharge planning had positive effects on treatment adherence and readmission rate in patients undergoing coronary artery angioplasty; therefore, it is suggested that health care system managers make the necessary plans to institutionalize this new educational approach for other patients discharge planning.

Effect of the Implementation of Interdisciplinary Discharge Planning on Treatment Adherence and Readmission in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Angioplasty / Efecto de la implementación de la planificación interdisciplinaria del alta en la adherencia al tratamiento y el reingreso en pacientes sometidos a angioplastia de la arteria coronaria / Efeito da implantação do planejamento de alta interdisciplinar na adesão ao tratamento e readmissão em pacientes submetidos à angioplastia coronariana

Objective. To determine the effect of interdisciplinary discharge planning on treatment adherence and readmission in the patients undergoing coronary artery angioplasty in the south of Iran in 2020. Methods. This experimental study had an intervention group and a control group with pre-test and post-test. 70 patients participated in the study who were randomly divided into the groups (intervention group (n=35) and control group (n=35)). In the intervention group, discharge planning was performed based on an interdisciplinary approach. Treatment adherence before, immediately, and one month after the intervention was evaluated with a 10-question survey scored from 1 to 5 (maximum score = 50), as well as readmission three months after the discharge was examined in both groups. Results. Before the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference between the intervention and the control groups in the treatment adherence score (18.22 versus 17.37; p=0.84) but immediately and one month after the intervention statistically significant differences between the groups were showed (21.51 versus 46.14 and 23.28 versus 43.12, respectively; p<0.001). Within three months after discharge, the readmission rate was 11.4% in the control group, while no readmission was reported in the intervention group. Within three months after discharge, the readmission rate was 11.4% in the control group, while no readmission was reported in the intervention group. Conclusion. The implementation of interdisciplinary discharge planning had positive effects on treatment adherence and readmission rate in patients undergoing coronary artery angioplasty; therefore, it is suggested that health care system managers make the necessary plans to institutionalize this new educational approach for other patients discharge planning

Objetivo. Determinar el efecto de la planificación interdisciplinaria del alta en la adherencia al tratamiento y el reingreso en los pacientes sometidos a angioplastia de la arteria coronaria en el sur de Irán en 2020. Métodos. Este estudio experimental contó con un grupo de intervención y un grupo de control con evaluación pre-test y post-test. Participaron en el estudio 70 pacientes que se dividieron aleatoriamente en los grupos. En el grupo de intervención, la planificación del alta se realizó sobre la base de un enfoque interdisciplinario. En ambos grupos se examinó la adherencia al tratamiento antes, inmediatamente y un mes después de la intervención con una encuesta de 10 preguntas puntuadas de 1 a 5 (máximo puntaje = 50), así como el reingreso hasta tres meses después del alta. Resultados. Antes de la intervención, no hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre el grupo de intervención y el de control en la puntuación de la adherencia al tratamiento (18.22 versus 17.37; p=0.84), pero inmediatamente y un mes después de la intervención los grupos mostraron una diferencia estadísticamente significativa (21.51 versus 46.14 y 23.28 versus. 43.12, respectivamente; p<0.001). A los tres meses del alta, la tasa de reingreso fue del 11.4% en el grupo de control, mientras que no se registró ningún reingreso en el grupo de intervención. Conclusión. La aplicación de la planificación interdisciplinaria del alta tuvo efectos positivos la adherencia del tratamiento y la tasa de reingreso en los pacientes sometidos a angioplastia de las arterias coronarias; por lo tanto, se sugiere que los gestores del sistema sanitario hagan los planes necesarios para institucionalizar este nuevo enfoque educativo para la planificación del alta de otros pacientes

Objetivo. Determinar o efeito do planejamento de alta interdisciplinar na adesão ao tratamento e readmissão em pacientes submetidos à angioplastia de artéria coronária no sul do Irã em 2020. Métodos. Este estudo experimental contou com um grupo intervenção e um grupo controle com avaliação pré-teste e pós-teste. Participaram do estudo 70 pacientes que foram divididos aleatoriamente em grupos. No grupo intervenção, o planejamento da alta foi realizado com base na abordagem interdisciplinar. Em ambos os grupos, a adesão ao tratamento foi examinada antes, imediatamente e um mês após a intervenção com um questionário de 10 questões pontuadas de 1 a 5 (pontuação máxima = 50), bem como a readmissão até três meses após a alta. Resultados. Antes da intervenção, não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os grupos intervenção e controle na pontuação de adesão ao tratamento (18.22 vr. 17.37; p = 0.84), mas imediatamente e um mês após a intervenção os grupos apresentaram diferença estatisticamente significativa (21.51 vr. 46.14 e 23.28 vr. 43.12, respectivamente; p <0.001). Aos três meses após a alta, a taxa de readmissão foi de 11.4% no grupo de controle, enquanto nenhuma readmissão foi registrada no grupo de intervenção. Conclusão. A aplicação do planejamento de alta interdisciplinar teve efeitos positivos na adesão ao tratamento e na taxa de readmissão em pacientes submetidos à angioplastia de artéria coronária; portanto, sugere-se que os gestores do sistema de saúde façam os planos necessários para institucionalizar essa nova abordagem educativa para o planejamento da alta de outros pacientes

The association between premature coronary artery disease and level of testosterone in young adult males.

OBJECTIVE: Low testosterone levels in men have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We aimed to identify the association between serum testosterone level and premature coronary artery disease (CAD) and its predictors in young adult males. METHODS: In this cross sectional study, consecutive male candidates for coronary angiography with unstable angina, no previous CAD and age ≤ 45 years were included. Serum levels of free (FT) and total testosterone (TT) as well as demographic and cardiovascular characteristics were compared between the CAD-positive and normal coronary subjects. The cutoff point for low TT was 2.5 ng/L. Additionally, the relationships between all the variables and the number of affected vessels and FT and TT and predictors of CAD were assessed. RESULTS: In this study, 191 patients with premature CAD were compared with 94 normal coronary subjects. Patients in the CAD group were significantly older (41.59 ± 3.79 versus 39.27 ± 4.97 years; P-value < 0.01), and had higher rates of diabetes mellitus (P-value = 0.04) and dyslipidemia (P-value = 0.01). Serum levels of FT and TT were significantly lower in the CAD group than the normal coronary subjects (P-value < 0.01 for both). The rate of subjects with low TT increased by the number of the affected vessels (p-value for trend <0.01) and there was a significant correlation between the Gensini score and FT and TT (r = -0.37, P-value < 0.01 and r = -0.34, P-value < 0.01, respectively). After adjustment for confounders, the association between low TT and CAD remained significant (Odds ratio = 4.30, 95% confidence interval: 1.99-9.32; P-value ≤ 0.001) CONCLUSION: Low levels of testosterone were associated with premature CAD and its severity in young adults.