[Cost-effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccination among patients with chronic heart failure].

Aim      To analyze the cost-effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccination in 40- and 65-year-old patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).Material and methods  Analysis was performed by Markov modeling from the perspective of the healthcare system. The evaluation was based on Russian epidemiological data taking into account results of international studies. The analyzed schedule of vaccination included one dose of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) followed by 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) after one year and vaccination with only one dose of PCV13. The time horizon of the study was 5 years. Costs and life expectancy were discounted at 3.5% per year.Results The cost-effectiveness of vaccination for both 65-year-old and 40-year-old CHF patients is very high: the incremental cost of one additional QALY (Quality-Adjusted Life Year) for PCV13+PPSV23 vaccination is 113.24 thousand rubles, while vaccination with PCV13 entails a reduction in costs by 556.50 rubles per one vaccinated patient. For vaccination of 40-year-old CHF patients with PCV13+PPSV23, the incremental costs per 1 QALY will be 519.72 thousand rubles, while for vaccination with PCV13 it will be 99.33 thousand rubles.Conclusion      Pneumococcal vaccination of CHF patients reduces the associated morbidity and mortality and is highly cost effective.

[The impact of BMI on the course of the acute SARS-COV-2 infection and the risks that emerge during the first year after the hospital discharge. Subanalysis evidence of the AKTIV and AKTIV 2 registries].

BACKGROUND: There is enough evidence of the negative impact of excess weight on the formation and progression of res piratory pathology. Given the continuing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, it is relevant to determine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the clinical features of the novel coronavirus infection (NCI). AIM: To study the effect of BMI on the course of the acute SARS-COV-2 infection and the post-covid period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: AKTIV and AKTIV 2 are multicenter non-interventional real-world registers. The АКТИВ registry (n=6396) includes non-overlapping outpatient and inpatient arms with 6 visits in each. The АКТИВ 2 registry (n=2968) collected  the  data  of  hospitalized  patients  and  included  3  visits.  All  subjects  were  divided  into  3  groups:  not  overweight  (n=2139), overweight (n=2931) and obese (n=2666). RESULTS: A higher BMI was significantly associated with a more severe course of the infection in the form of acute kidney injury (p=0.018), cytokine storm (p<0.001), serum C-reactive protein over 100 mg/l (p<0.001), and the need for targeted therapy (p<0.001) in the hospitalized patients. Obesity increased the odds of myocarditis by 1,84 times (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1,13-3,00) and the need for anticytokine therapy by 1,7 times (95% CI: 1,30-2,30).The  patients  with  the  1st  and  2nd  degree  obesity,  undergoing  the  inpatient  treatment,  tended  to  have  a  higher  probability  of  a  mortality  rate.  While  in  case  of  morbid  obesity  patients  this  tendency  is  the  most  significant  (odds  ratio  -  1,78; 95% CI: 1,13-2,70). At the same time, the patients whose chronical diseases first appeared after the convalescence period, and those who had certain complaints missing before SARS-CoV-2 infection, more often had BMI of more than 30 kg/m2 (p<0,001).Additionally, the odds of death increased by 2,23 times (95% CI: 1,05-4,72) within 3 months after recovery in obese people over the age of 60 yearsCONCLUSION.  Overweight  and/or  obesity  is  a  significant  risk  factor  for severe  course  of  the  new  coronavirus  infection  and  the associated cardiovascular and kidney damage Overweight people and patients with the 1st and 2nd degree obesity tend to have a high risk of death of SARS-CoV-2 infection in both acute and post-covid periods. On top of that, in case of morbid obesity patients this tendency is statistically significant. Normalization of body weight is a strategic objective of modern medicine and can contribute to prevention of respiratory conditions, severe course and complications of the new coronavirus infection.

[ACTIV SARS-CoV-2 registry (Analysis of Chronic Non-infectious Diseases Dynamics After COVID-19 Infection in Adult Patients). Assessment of impact of combined original comorbid diseases in patients with COVID-19 on the prognosis].

AIM: Study the impact of various combinations of comorbid original diseases in patients infected with COVID-19 later on the disease progression and outcomes of the new coronavirus infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ACTIV registry was created on the Eurasian Association of Therapists initiative. 5,808 patients have been included in the registry: men and women with COVID-19 treated at hospital or at home. CLINICALTRIALS: gov ID NCT04492384. RESULTS: Most patients with COVID-19 have original comorbid diseases (oCDs). Polymorbidity assessed by way of simple counting of oCDs is an independent factor in negative outcomes of COVID-19. Search for most frequent combinations of 2, 3 and 4 oCDs has revealed absolute domination of cardiovascular diseases (all possible variants). The most unfavorable combination of 2 oCDs includes atrial hypertension (AH) and chronic heart failure (CHF). The most unfavorable combination of 3 oCDs includes AH, coronary heart disease (CHD) and CHF; the worst combination of 4 oCDs includes AH, CHD, CHF and diabetes mellitus. Such combinations increased the risk of lethal outcomes 3.963, 4.082 and 4.215 times respectively. CONCLUSION: Polymorbidity determined by way of simple counting of diseases may be estimated as a factor in the lethal outcome risk in the acute phase of COVID-19 in real practice. Most frequent combinations of 2, 3 and 4 diseases in patients with COVID-19 primarily include cardiovascular diseases (AH, CHD and CHF), diabetes mellitus and obesity. Combinations of such diseases increase the COVID-19 lethal outcome risk.

Epidemiology of atrial fibrillation in a representative sample of the European part of the Russian Federation. Analysis of EPOCH-CHF study.

Aim    To study true prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in a representative sample from the European part of the Russian Federation; to describe characteristics of patients with AF; and to provide the frequency of anticoagulant treatment.Material and methods    Cross-sectional data of the EPOCH epidemiological study (2017) were used. Data were collected in 8 constituent entities of the Russian Federation; the sample size was 11 453 people. The sample included all respondents who had given their consent for participation and were older than 10 years. Statistical tests were performed in the R system for statistical data analysis.Results    The prevalence of AF in the representative sample from the European part of the Russian Federation was 2.04 %. The AF prevalence increased with age and reached a maximum value of 9.6% in the age group of 80 to 89 years. The AF prevalence among females was 1.5 times higher than among men. With age standardization, the AF prevalence was 18.95 and 21.33 per 1,000 people for men and women, respectively. The AF prevalence increased in the presence of concurrent cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) or diabetes mellitus as well as with an increased number of comorbidities in the same person and reached 70.3 and 60.0 % in patients with 4 and 5 comorbidities, respectively. Patients with AF had a greater number of comorbidities and higher CHA2DS2VASc scores (5.0 vs. 2.0, p<0.001) compared to patients with CVDs without AF. Only 22.6 % of patients with CVD and AF took anticoagulants. Only 23.9% of patients with absolute indications for the anticoagulant treatment received anticoagulants.Conclusion    The AF prevalence in the European part of the Russian Federation was 2.04 %; it increased with age and in patients with concurrent CVDs or diabetes mellitus. Most of AF patients (93.2 %) required a mandatory treatment with oral anticoagulants.

Gender Characteristics of the Novel Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19) in Middle-Aged Adults.

The aim of the study is to assess the gender-related specifics of the COVID-19 course in patients under 55 years of age. Materials and Methods: This pilot single-center continuous retrospective non-randomized study was carried out in the repurposed infectious diseases hospital of the Privolzhsky Research Medical University (Nizhny Novgorod, Russia). The study inclusion criterion was the age of patients (up to 55 years) and confirmed coronavirus infection. In the groups based on gender differences (25 men, average age 44.0±7.8 years and 32 women, average age 41.9±9.1 years), we monitored complications of COVID-19 such as the transfer of patients to the ICU and the volume of lung damage (determined with CT scans). Results: The course of COVID-19 in male patients younger than 55 was aggravated by concomitant diseases (γ=0.36; p=0.043), among which IHD (γ=1.00; p=0.003) and liver disease (γ=0.58; p=0.007) dominated. Frequency analysis confirmed the high prevalence of coronary artery disease in men (p=0.044). Significant differences between the gender-related groups were noted in the volume of lung lesions: at admission (p=0.050), during hospital treatment (p=0.019), and at discharge (p=0.044). Using the logistic regression method, a relationship was found between the transfer of male patients to ICU and the Krebs index [y= -2.033 + 1.154 male gender + 1.539 Krebs index (χ2=5.68; p=0.059)] and comorbidity [y= -2.836 + 1.081 male gender + 2.052 comorbidity (χ2=7.03; p=0.030)]. The influence of the Krebs index and the male gender on the excess volume of lung lesions was shown [y= -1.962 + 0.575 male gender + 1.915 Krebs index (χ2=7.78; p=0.021)]. Conclusion: In individuals under the age of 55 diagnosed with COVID-19, gender is of significant importance: in men, there is a more pronounced lesion of the lung parenchyma and a more significant change in laboratory parameters. Risk factors for a severe course of COVID-19 in men are coronary artery disease and hepatobiliary disorder. Calculating the Krebs index can be used to assess the risk of disease progression.

Analysis of influence of background therapy for comorbidities in the period before infection on the risk of the lethal COVID outcome. Data from the international ACTIV SARS-CoV-2 registry («Analysis of chronic non-infectious diseases dynamics after COVID-19 infection in adult patients SARS-CoV-2¼).

Aim      To study the effect of regular drug therapy for cardiovascular and other diseases preceding the COVID-19 infection on severity and outcome of COVID-19 based on data of the ACTIVE (Analysis of dynamics of Comorbidities in paTIents who surVived SARS-CoV-2 infEction) registry.Material and methods  The ACTIVE registry was created at the initiative of the Eurasian Association of Therapists. The registry includes 5 808 male and female patients diagnosed with COVID-19 treated in a hospital or at home with a due protection of patients' privacy (data of nasal and throat smears; antibody titer; typical CT imaging features). The register territory included 7 countries: the Russian Federation, the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Moldova, and the Republic of Uzbekistan. The registry design: a closed, multicenter registry with two nonoverlapping arms (outpatient arm and in-patient arm). The registry scheduled 6 visits, 3 in-person visits during the acute period and 3 virtual visits (telephone calls) at 3, 6, and 12 mos. Patient enrollment started on June 29, 2020 and was completed on October 29, 2020. The registry completion is scheduled for October 29, 2022. The registry ID: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04492384. In this fragment of the study of registry data, the work group analyzed the effect of therapy for comorbidities at baseline on severity and outcomes of the novel coronavirus infection. The study population included only the patients who took their medicines on a regular basis while the comparison population consisted of noncompliant patients (irregular drug intake or not taking drugs at all despite indications for the treatment).Results The analysis of the ACTIVE registry database included 5808 patients. The vast majority of patients with COVID-19 had comorbidities with prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. Medicines used for the treatment of COVID-19 comorbidities influenced the course of the infectious disease in different ways. A lower risk of fatal outcome was associated with the statin treatment in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD); with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor antagonists and with beta-blockers in patients with IHD, arterial hypertension, chronic heart failure (CHF), and atrial fibrillation; with oral anticoagulants (OAC), primarily direct OAC, clopidogrel/prasugrel/ticagrelor in patients with IHD; with oral antihyperglycemic therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM); and with long-acting insulins in patients with type 1 DM. A higher risk of fatal outcome was associated with the spironolactone treatment in patients with CHF and with inhaled corticosteroids (iCS) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Conclusion      In the epoch of COVID-19 pandemic, a lower risk of severe course of the coronavirus infection was observed for patients with chronic noninfectious comorbidities highly compliant with the base treatment of the comorbidity.

Value of comparative studies of "real clinical practice" in modern cardiology. Position paper based on the expert council discussion dated 12/18/2020.

On December 18, 2020, an expert council was held with the participation of members of the Russian Society of Cardiology, the Eurasian Association of Ther-apists, the National Society for Atherothrombosis, the National Society for Evi-dence-Based Pharmacotherapy, and the Russian Heart Failure Society. The event was devoted to the discussion of the correct use of research data of "real clinical practice" in decision making.

Chronic heart failure in the Russian Federation: what has changed over 20 years of follow-up? Results of the EPOCH-CHF study.

Aim    To study the etiology and the dynamics of prevalence and mortality of CHF; to evaluate the treatment coverage of such patients in a representative sample of the European part of the Russian Federation for a 20-year period. Material and methods    A representative sample of the European part of the Russian Federation followed up for 2002 through 2017 (n=19 276); a representative sample of the population of the Nizhny Novgorod region examined in 1998 (n=1922).Results    During the observation period since 2002, the incidence of major CHF symptoms (tachycardia, edema, shortness of breath, weakness) tended to decrease while the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases has statistically significantly increased. During the period from 1998 through 2017, the prevalence of I-IV functional class (FC) CHF increased from 6.1 % to 8.2 % whereas III-IV FC CHF increased from 1.8 % to 3.1 %. The main causes for the development of CHF remained arterial hypertension and ischemic heart disease; the role of myocardial infarction and diabetes mellitus as causes for CHF was noted. For the analyzed period, the number of treatment components and the coverage of basic therapy for patients with CHF increased, which probably accounts for a slower increase in the disease prevalence by 2007-2017. The prognosis of patients was unfavorable: in I-II FC CHF, the median survival was 8.4 (95 % CI: 7.8-9.1) years and in III-IV FC CHF, the median survival was 3.8 (95 % CI: 3.4-4.2) years.

Experience of introducing a new form of organization of medical care for patients with heart failure in the Russian Federation.

Aim    To present clinical characteristics of patients after hospitalization for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and to analyze hemodynamic indexes and compliance with the treatment at two years depending on the conditions of outpatient follow-up.Material and methods    The study included 942 patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) older than 18 years who had been hospitalized for ADHF. Based on patients' decisions, two groups were isolated: patients who continued the outpatient follow-up at the Center of CHF (CCHF) (group 1, n=510) and patients who continued the follow-up in outpatient multidisciplinary clinics (OMC) at their place of residence (group 2, n=432). The clinical portrait of patients was evaluated after ADHF, and hemodynamic parameters were evaluated on discharge from the hospital. Also, the patient compliance with the treatment was analyzed during two years of follow-up. Statistical analysis was performed with Statistica 7.0 for Windows.Results    The leading causes for CHF included arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. With the mean duration of hospitalization of 11 inpatient days, 88.1 % and 88.4 % of patients of groups 1 and 2 were discharged with complaints of shortness of breath; 62 % and 70.4 % complained of palpitations; and 73.6 % and 71.8 % complained of general weakness. On discharge from the hospital, the following obvious signs of congestion remained: peripheral edema in 54.3 % and 57.9 %; pulmonary rales in 28.8 % and 32.4 %; orthopnea in 21.4 % and 26.2 %; and cough in 16,5 % and 15.5 % of patients of groups 1 and 2, respectively. For the time of hospitalization, CHF patients did not achieve their targets of systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP) and heart rate (HR). Patients of group 1 achieved the recommended values of SBP, DBP and HR already at one year of the follow-up at CCHF. Patients of group 2 had no significant changes in hemodynamic indexes. At one and two years of the follow-up, group 2 showed a considerable impairment of the compliance with the basis therapy for CHF compared to group 1.Conclusions    During the short period of hospitalization (11 inpatient days), the patients retained pronounced symptoms of HF and clinical signs of congestion and did not achieve their hemodynamic targets. The patients who were followed up for a long time at CCHF were more compliant with the basis therapy, which resulted in improvement of hemodynamic indexes, compared to the patients who were managed in OMS at the place of residence.

[International register "Analysis of Chronic Non-infectious Diseases Dynamics After COVID-19 Infection in Adult Patients (ACTIV SARS-CoV-2)"].

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[Empagliflozin and heart failure: position paper of the experts on the results of the online meeting and discussion of the EMPEROR-Preserved Trial].

At an international online expert meeting held on September 16, 2021, the results of the empagliflozin research program EMPA-REG Outcome, EMPEROR-Reduced and EMPEROR-Preserved were reviewed. We analyzed cardiovascular and renal outcomes during the treatment with empagliflozin in patients with chronic heart failure, regardless of the presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The positive results of the EMPEROR-Preserved study are updated and their significance for clinical practice is discussed. Several proposals have been adopted that will accelerate the introduction of empagliflozin therapy into practice in patients with heart failure and overcome clinical inertia.

[The agreed experts' position of the Eurasian Association of Therapists on tactics of management of patients with comorbid pathology infected with SARS-Cov-2].

The agreement of experts of the Eurasian Association of Therapists (EAT) discusses pathogenesis and treatment of COVID-19. Modern data on the characteristics of cardiovascular, kidney, respiratory damage in SARS-infected CoV-2 are presented. The tactics of managing patients initially having cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma, chronic kidney disease are discussed in detail. The article presents data on drug interaction of drugs.

[Use of Statins, Anticoagulants, Antiaggregants and Antiarrhythmic Drugs in Patients With COVID-19. The Agreed Experts' Position of Russian Society of Cardiology, Eurasian Association of Therapists, National Society on Atherothrombosis, Societies of Experts in Urgent Cardiology, Eurasian Arrhythmology Association].

This article discusses relevant aspects in the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Up-to-date information about principles for administration of statins, antithrombotics, and antiarrhythmics is presented. The authors addressed in detail specific features of reversing heart rhythm disorders in patients with coronavirus infection and the interaction of antiarrhythmic and antiviral drugs. Recommendations are provided for outpatient and inpatient antithrombotic therapy for patients with COVID-19. Issues of antithrombotic and antiviral drug interaction are discussed.

[The Agreed Experts' Position of the Eurasian Association of Therapists on Some new Mechanisms of COVID-19 Pathways: Focus on Hemostasis, Hemotransfusion Issues and Blood gas Exchange].

The article discusses pathogenesis and treatment of COVID-19. The authors presented state-of-the-art insight into hemostatic disorders in patients with COVID-19 and clinical recommendations on prevention of thrombosis and thromboembolism in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. The article discussed in detail a new hypothesis proposed by Chinese physicians about a new component in the pathogenesis of COVID-19, namely, about the effect of SARS-CoV-2 virus on the hemoglobin beta-chain and the formation of a complex with porphyrin, which results in displacement of the iron ion. Thus, hemoglobin loses the capability for transporting oxygen, which aggravates hypoxia and worsens the prognosis. The article stated rules of hemotransfusion safety in the conditions of COVID-19 pandemic.

[Patients after acute decompensation of Heart Failure: adherence to self-monitoring and treatment depending on the mode of outpatient monitoring].

Aim      To evaluate compliance with self-monitoring and drug and non-drug treatment of patients after ADHF during the management at a specialized center for CHF treatment (CCHF) or in real-life clinical practice.Material and methods  The study included 942 CHF patients after ADHF. In two years, the entire sample of patients was retrospectively divided into 4 groups based on their compliance with the management at the CCHF: group 1, 313 patients who were managed at the CCHF continuously for two years; group 2, 383 patients who choose the management at district outpatient clinics after discharge from a hospital; group 3, 197 patients who visited the CCHF for one year but then stopped the management; and group 4, 49 patients who initially preferred the management at district clinics but then switched to constant management at the CCHF. Compliance with recommendations was analyzed by data of outpatient clinical records or by data of structured telephone calls for patients who did not visit the CCHF or did not follow the visit schedule. Statistics was performed with a Statistica 7.0 for Windows software package.Results Patients of groups 2 (72.4 %) and 3 (88.3 %) performed self-monitoring less frequently whereas patients of groups 1 (94.6 %) and 4 (87.8 %) performed self-monitoring more frequently (р1 / 3=0.01, р1 / 2<0.001, р1 / 4=0.07, р2 / 4=0.02, р2 / 3<0.001, р4 / 3=0.9). Patients of group 2 (58.1 %) performed self-monitoring of heart rate less frequently than patients of groups 1, 3, and 4 (90.7 %, 81.7 %, and 87.8 %; р1 / 3=0.003, р1 / 2<0.001, р1 / 4=0.5, р2 / 4<0.001, р2 / 3<0.001, and р4 / 3=0.3). Patients of group 2 performed body weight self-monitoring less frequently than patients of groups 1, 3, and 4 (78.6 %, 67.9 %, and 72.9 %; р1 / 3=0.008, р1 / 2<0.001, р1 / 4=0.4, р2 / 4=0.002, р2 / 3<0.001, and р4 / 3=0.5). Compliance with the diet and restriction of salt consumption was 32.3 % and 37.5 % in groups 1 and 4, and 24.9 % and 19.9 % in groups 2 and 3 (р1 / 3=0.002, р1 / 2=0.03, р1 / 4=0.5, р2 / 4=0.02, р2 / 3=0.2, and р4 / 3=0.009). Compliance with recommendations on physical rehabilitation was 44.7% in group 1, which was better than in groups 2, 3, and 4 (8.2 %, 21.6 %, and 9.1 %; р1 / 2<0.001, р1 / 3=0.0003, р1 / 4=0.002, р2 / 4=0.9, р2 / 3=0.0006, and р4 / 3=0.2). At the end of the second year of follow-up, the actual proportion of patients taking ACE inhibitors/angiotensin receptor antagonists was low in groups 2, 3, and 4 (43.2 %, 45 %, and 66.7 %) and satisfactory in group 1 (92.4 %; р1 / 2<0.001, р1 / 3<0.001, р1 / 4<0.001, р2 / 3=0.6, р2 / 4=0.05, and р3 / 4=0.05). Proportion of patients taking beta-blockers was greater in group 1 (97.2 %) than in groups 2, 3. and 4 (73.2 %, 71.1 %, and 90.5 %; р1 / 2<0.001, р1 / 3<0.001, р1 / 4=00.08, р2 / 3=0.6, р2 / 4=0.1, and р3 / 4=0.06). Patients of group 1 (96.2 %) showed good compliance with the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist treatment compared to groups 2, 3, and 4 (58.8 %, 55.4 %, and 81.2 %; р1 / 2<0.001, р1 / 3<0.001, р1 / 4<0.001, р2 / 3=0.5, р2 / 4=0.1, and р3 / 4=0.Conclusion      Only scheduled management by a cardiologist of the specialized CCHF provided sufficient compliance with self-monitoring and drug and non-drug treatment of CHF during the long-term follow-up.

[Analysis of mortality in patients with heart failure after de-compen-sation during long-term follow-up in specialized medical care and in real clinical practice].

Background Mortality from chronic heart failure (CHF) remains high and entails serious demographic losses worldwide. The most vulnerable group is patients after acute decompensated HF (ADHF) who have a high risk of unfavorable outcome.Aim To analyze risks of all-cause death (ACD), cardiovascular death (CVD), and death from recurrent ADHF in CHF patients during two years following ADHF in long-term follow-up with specialized medical care and in real-life clinical practice.Material and methods The study successively included 942 CHF patients after ADHF. 510 patients continued out-patient treatment in a specialized CHF treatment center (CHFTC) (group 1) and 432 patients refused of the management in the CHFTC and were managed in out-patient clinics at the place of patient's residence (group 2). Causes of death were determined based on inpatient hospital records, postmortem reports, or outpatient medical records. Cases of ACD, CVD, death from ADHF, and a composite index (CVD and death from ADHF) were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed with the software package Statistica 7.0 for Windows, SPSS, and statistical package R.Results Patients of group 2 were older, more frequently had functional class (FC) III CHF and less frequently FC I CHF compared to group 1. Women and patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LV EF) prevailed in both groups. Results of the Cox proportional hazards model for ACD, CVD, death from ADHF, and the composite mortality index showed that belonging to group 2 was an independent predictor for increased risk of death (р<0.001). An increase in CCS score by 1 also increased the risk of death (р<0.001). Baseline CHF FC and LV EF did not influence the mortality in any model. Female gender and a higher value of 6-min walk test (6MW) independently decreased the risk of all outcomes except for CVD. An increase in systolic BP by 10 mm Hg reduced risk of all fatal outcomes. At two years of follow-up in groups 2 and 1, ACD was 29.9 % and 10.2 %, (OR, 3.7; 95 % CI: 2.6-5.3; p <0.001), CVD was 10.4 % and 1.9 % (OR, 5.9; 95 % CI: 2.8-12.4; p<0.001), death from ADHF was 18.1 % and 6.0 % (OR, 3.5; 95 % CI: 2.2-5.5; p<0.001), and the composite mortality index was 25.2 % and 7.7 % (OR, 4.1; 95 % CI: 2.7-6.1; р<0.001). Analysis of all outcomes by follow-up period (3 and 6 months and 1 and 2 years) showed that the difference between groups 2 and 1 in risks of any fatal outcome was maximal during the first 6 months.Conclusion The follow-up in the system of specialized medical care reduces risks of ACD, CVD, and death from ADHF. The first 6 months following discharge from the hospital was a vulnerability period for patients after ADHF. The CCS score impaired the prognosis whereas baseline LV EF and CHF FC did not influence the long-term prognosis after ADHF. Protective factors included female gender and higher values of 6MW and systolic BP.

[The risks of re-hospitalization of patients with heart failure with prolonged follow-up in a specialized center for the treatment of heart failure and in real clinical practice.]

Relevance The number of patients with functional class III-IV chronic heart failure (CHF) characterized by frequent rehospitalization for acute decompensated HF (ADHF) has increased. Rehospitalizations significantly increase the cost of patient management and the burden on health care system.Objective To determine the effect of long-term follow-up at a specialized center for treatment of HF (Center for Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure, CTCHF) on the risk of rehospitalization for patients after ADHF.Materials and Methods The study successively included 942 patients with CHF after ADHF. Group 1 consisted of 510 patients who continued the outpatient follows-up at the CTCHF, and group 2 included 432 patients who refused of the follow-up at the CTCHF and were managed at outpatient clinics at their place of residence. CHF patient compliance with recommendations and frequency of rehospitalization for ADHF were determined by outpatient medical records and structured telephone calls. A rehospitalization for ADHF was recorded if the patient stayed for more than one day in the hospital and required intravenous loop diuretics. The follow-up period was two years. Statistical analyses were performed using a Statistica 7.0 software for Windows, SPSS, and a R statistical package.Results Patients of group 2 were significantly older, more frequently had FC III CHF and less frequently had FC I CHF than patients of group 1. Both groups contained more women and HF patients with preserved ejection fraction. Using the method of binary multifactorial logit-regression a mathematical model was created, which showed that risk of rehospitalization during the entire follow-up period did not depend on age and sex but was significantly increased 2.4 times for patients with FC III-IV CHF and 3.4 times for patients of group 2. Multinomial multifactorial logit-regression showed that the risk of one, two, three or more rehospitalizations within two years was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (2.9-4.5 times depending on the number of rehospitalizations) and for patients with FC III-IV CHF compared to patients with FC I-II CHF (2-3.2 times depending on the number of rehospitalizations). Proportion of readmitted patients during the first year of follow-up was significantly greater in group 2 than in group 1 (55.3 % vs. 39.8 % of patients [odd ratio (OR) =1.9; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.4-2.4; р<0.001]; during the second year, the proportion was 67.4 % vs. 28.2 % (OR=5.3; 95 % CI, 3.9-7.1; р<0.001). Patients of group 1 were readmitted more frequently during the first year than during the second year (р<0,001) whereas patients of group 2 were readmitted more frequently during the second than the first year of follow-up (р<0.001). Total proportion of readmitted patients for two years of follow-up was significantly greater in group 2 (78.0 % vs. 50.6 %) (OR=3.5; 95 % CI, 2.6-4.6; р<0.001). Reasons for rehospitalizations were identified in 88.7 % and 45.9 % of the total number of readmitted patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The main cause for ADHF was non-compliance with recommendations in 47.4 % and 66.7 % of patients of groups 1 and 2, respectively (р<0.001).Conclusion Follow-up in the system of specialized health care significantly decreases the risk of rehospitalization during the first and second years of follow-up and during two years in total for both patients with FC I-II CHF and FC III-IV CHF. Despite education of patients, personal contacts with medical personnel, and telephone support, main reasons for rehospitalization were avoidable.

[Papillary fibroelastoma in the cardiologist's practice].

The article presents a clinical case of diagnosis and treatment of a rare disease, multiple papillary fibroelastoma associated with a relapse and a complication in the form of cardioembolic stroke. The authors stressed difficulties in diagnostics of this disease and a special role of the physician-patient interaction.

[What new will implementation of European Guidelines for managing arterial hypertension introduce into real-life clinical practice?]

AIM: To analyze the effect of introducing new treatment goals in hypertension stated in the 2018 European Society of Cardiology and European Society of Hypertension Guidelines on prevalence and treatment efficacy of arterial hypertension (AH) in a representative sample of patients in the European part of the Russian Federation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A representative sample of population in the European part of Russia was evaluated in 1998, 2002, 2007, and 2017. The structure of patients with AH was compared in these samples according to the 2013 and 2018 European Guidelines. RESULTS: Introduction of new guidelines for the treatment of AH in 2018 resulted in increasing the prevalence of hypertension from 35.5% to 36.9% in 1998, from 39.1% to 39.9% in 2002, from 451.0% to 41.3% in 2007, and from 43.3% to 43.6% in 2017. Proportion of effectively managed patients decreased from 4.7% to 3.5% in 1998, from 7.5% to 6.2% in 2002, from 17.0 to 14.7% in 2007, and from 30.8% to 26.4%. Proportion of patients who required initiation of antihypertensive therapy increased from 59.6% to 61.1% in 1998, from 47.9% to 49.1% in 2002, from 27.9% to 28.2% in 2007, and from 17.5% to 18.2% in 2017. CONCLUSION: The new requirements to diagnostic and treatment of AH provided by the 2018 European Society of Cardiology Guidelines insignificantly influenced prevalence and treatment efficacy of AH. At the same time, the new guidelines appeared rather difficult for application due to different values of blood pressure used for diagnostics and treatment goals.

[Stability of chronic heart failure from the position of a doctor and a patient: in search of contact points].

Actuality. The results of the EPOCH study showed that in 16 years in the Russian Federation the number of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) of I-IV FC increased significantly. The main objectives of the treatment of CHF are the stabilization of the patient's condition and the reduction of the risks of cardiovascular mortality, decompensation and repeated hospitalizations for heart failure. But a single concept of "stable" CHF does not exist either in Russian or in foreign recommendations. OBJECTIVE: To assess how ofen the subjective assessment of a doctor regarding the stability of a patient with CHF coincides with the subjective opinion of the patient with CHF regarding the stability of his condition; and to identify those parametrs that have a leading influence on the assessment of the stability of the state from the point of view of the physician and the patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data collection was carried out in the form of interviews among general practitioners and cardiologists in outpatient clinics (OC) of Nizhny Novgorod, which were randomly selected by the method of blind envelopes. In parallel, a survey was conducted of patients with CHF who applied for outpatient medical care about this syndrome to this OC, which the doctors were not informed about, because patient interviews were conducted after the end of outpatient admission in a separate room. Answers of doctors about a patient with CHF were compared with the answers of the corresponding patient; for this, a single code was assigned to both questionnaires. The study included 211 patients with CHF of any etiology older than 18 years. The study involved 25 doctors. The study was conducted from 11/01/17 to 11/30/17. RESULTS: Analysis of the data suggests that the doctor is more likely to consider the patient more stable in cases when the patient notes a decrease in the severity of shortness of breath, weakness and does not detect edema, while the fact of therapy with loop diuretics (LD) or an increase in them did not affect assessment of stability from the point of view of the doctor. From the point of view of the patient, the absence of the first three signs also testifies to the stability of the condition, however, unlike doctors, patients more often (p <0.001) considered themselves unstable in those cases when they needed LD therapy or an increase in LD dose. A logit regression analysis and ROC analysis based on selected signs and symptoms of CHF confirmed that a model that combines questions about persistent weakness and edema is best suited to predict the patient's subjective assessment of patient's stability from a doctor's point of view (61.8% of the results can be correctly predicted), and at the cutoff threshold of 0.5, it has the highest sensitivity of 64.9%. To predict the subjective assessment of stability in relation to the patient, the optimal model turned out to be the one that includes answers to the questions of "shortness of breath", "weakness" and "intake of loop diuretics", which allows to predict 66.7% of the results correctly at the cut­off threshold 0, 5 has a better balance of sensitivity and specificity (54.9 and 78.6, respectively). CONCLUSION: Reducing the severity of dyspnea, weakness and lack of edema of the lower extremities are important signs of the stability of the condition, both in the opinion of the doctor and in the opinion of the patient. Unlike the doctor, the patient is more likely to be classified as unstable in those cases when he is forced to receive therapy with loop diuretics at the outpatient stage or to increase their dose. The model for assessing the stability of a patient with CHF from the point of view of a physician more often allows one to confirm the patient's stable condition, while the model used by patients more often allows to identify patient instability and worsening of the course of CHF.