Therapeutic Inertia in Dyslipidemia Management for Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention: Results from the Italian ITACARE-P Network.

This study assessed the proportion of secondary cardiovascular prevention patients who achieved low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol targets as per the 2019 ESC/EAS Dyslipidemia Guidelines. We also evaluated whether lipid-lowering therapies (LLTs) were adjusted in patients not meeting targets and analyzed the likelihood of these modifications achieving recommended levels. A multicenter, cross-sectional observational study retrospectively reviewed medical records of 1909 outpatients in 9 Italian cardiac rehabilitation/secondary prevention clinics from January 2023 to June 2024.

[ITACARE-P/SIGG/SIGOT/SICGE position paper: referral of elderly cardiac patient from geriatrics to cardiac rehabilitation.].

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is Class IA indication in patients after an acute cardiovascular (CV) event, with efficacy confirmed even in elderly or frail CV patients CV and geriatric outcomes. However, rate of referral and admission to CR of elderly CV patients remains very low. CV patients admitted in geriatric wards are often complex, multimorbid and frail.

A Look at Primary and Secondary Prevention in the Elderly: The Two Sides of the Same Coin.

The global population is experiencing an aging trend; however, this increased longevity is not necessarily accompanied by improved health in older age. A significant consequence of this demographic shift is the rising prevalence of multiple chronic illnesses, posing challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. Aging is a major risk factor for multimorbidity, which marks a progressive decline in resilience and a dysregulation of multisystem homeostasis.

Position paper ITACARE-P/FADOI on the referral from internal medicine to cardiac rehabilitation: Executive summary and factsheet.

The Italian Association for Cardiovascular Rehabilitation and Prevention (ITACARE-P) and the Italian Federation of Associations of Hospital Doctors on Internal Medicine (FADOI) released a joint position paper to guide referrals of cardiovascular patients discharged from Internal Medicine (IM) wards to Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) facilities. The document provides rationale and operative recommendations for appropriateness (i.e.

Gender difference in long-term effect of cardiac rehabilitation; data from CRAGE-extra study.

Introduction: The positive effect of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is demonstrated in younger and older patients. However, it is quite debated whether the beneficial effect is similarly maintained in both genders during follow-up.

Aim: to determine if the improvement obtained after CR remained significant at 1-year follow-up in older population, testing the influence of gender on this outcome.

Cardio-oncology rehabilitation: are we ready?

Cardio-oncology rehabilitation (CORE) is not only an essential component of cancer rehabilitation but also a pillar of preventive cardio-oncology. Cardio-oncology rehabilitation is a comprehensive model based on a multitargeted approach and its efficacy has been widely documented; when compared with an 'exercise only' programme, comprehensive CORE demonstrates a better outcome. It involves nutritional counselling, psychological support, and cardiovascular (CV) risk assessment, and it is directed to a very demanding population with a heavy burden of CV diseases driven by physical inactivity, cancer therapy-induced metabolic derangements, and cancer therapy-related CV toxicities.

Serial Changes in Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Parameters in Untreated Patients With Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis.

Background: Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is associated with a progressive reduction of functional capacity. The progression of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) parameters over time is still unknown.

Methods: In this study, 55 patients with ATTR-CM underwent 2 serial cardiologic evaluations and CPETs in a national referral center for cardiac amyloidosis (Careggi University Hospital, Florence).

[Management of patients with type 2 diabetes during cardiac prevention and rehabilitation. An expert opinion from the Italian Alliance for Cardiovascular Rehabilitation and Prevention (ITACARE-P)].

Patients with diabetes, regardless of their cardiovascular disease and their index event, are more and more often referred to Cardiac Rehabilitation Units. These patients usually show high or very high cardiovascular risk, marked disability and poor quality of life. Furthermore, those with older age, frailty, and female sex have even more rehabilitative needs, thus requiring fine individualized approaches.

Latent change models of lifestyle in acute coronary syndrome patients: Are lifestyle changes associated with resilience changes?

This study aimed to examine the role of resilience resources in patients' lifestyle changes after the first Acute Coronary event. 275 Italian patients (84.0% men; mean age = 57.

Predictors of physical frailty improvement in older patients enrolled in a multidisciplinary cardiac rehabilitation program.

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves clinical and functional recovery in older patients after acute cardiac syndromes, whose outcome is influenced by cardiac disease severity, but also by comorbidity and frailty. The aim of the study was to analyze the predictors of physical frailty improvement during the CR program. Data were collected in all patients aged > 75 years consecutively admitted from 1 January to December 2017 to our CR, consisting of 5-day-per-week of 30-min session of biking or calisthenics on alternate days for 4 weeks.

Infection with SARS-CoV-2 Variants Is Associated with Different Long COVID Phenotypes.

COVID-19 has been associated with a broad range of long-term sequelae, commonly referred to as "long-COVID" or "post-COVID-19" syndrome. Despite an increasing body of literature, long COVID remains poorly characterized. We retrospectively analysed data from electronic medical records of patients admitted to the post-COVID-19 outpatient service of the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy, between June 2020 and June 2021, 4-12 weeks after hospital discharge.

Relationship between hyponatremia at hospital admission and cardiopulmonary profile at follow-up in patients with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection.

Purpose: Hyponatremia occurs in about 30% of patients with pneumonia, including those with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection. Hyponatremia predicts a worse outcome in several pathologic conditions and in COVID-19 has been associated with a higher risk of non-invasive ventilation, ICU transfer and death. The main objective of this study was to determine whether early hyponatremia is also a predictor of long-term sequelae at follow-up.

Predictors of 1-year outcome in very old patients managed in a Heart Failure Unit after an acute decompensation.

Purpose: Consensus exits about the clinical benefits of an early referral to multidisciplinary Heart Failure Unit-HFU for old frail patients with HF. Nevertheless, few data are present regarding the prognosis and the predictors of outcome in oldest-old patients managed in this clinical setting. The aim of present study is to identify predictors of 1-year all-cause mortality in very old patients enrolled in our multidisciplinary HFU after an episode of acute decompensated HF.

Associations between Lifestyle Changes and Adherence to COVID-19 Restrictions in Older Adults with Hypertension.

COVID-19 has changed people's routines and imposed new ways of living. This study investigated variations in lifestyles (namely, physical activity, diet, alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoking) between the prepandemic and the pandemic period in a sample of older adults with hypertension. Moreover, it investigated predictors of adherence to government restrictions during the first lockdown period, evidencing the role of relevant sociodemographic indicators and lifestyle changes.

The role of sense of coherence in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms among patients at the first acute coronary event: A three-year longitudinal study.

Objective: Although several studies suggest an association between psychological distress and increased morbidity and mortality in various cardiac populations, little is known about positive psychological resources, like Sense of Coherence (SOC), that may reduce distress. This longitudinal observational study aimed to test the hypothesis that a strong SOC predicted a longitudinal decrease in anxiety and depression in a sample of patients after their first acute coronary event.

Methods: A sample of 275 patients completed the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) and the SOC Scale at five time-points (at the baseline and after 6, 12, 24, and 36 months).

Sense of Coherence Predicts Physical Activity Maintenance and Health-Related Quality of Life: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study on Cardiovascular Patients.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. A physically active lifestyle can improve the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people with CVD. Nevertheless, adherence to a physically active lifestyle is poor.

Cardiac Rehabilitation in Advanced aGE after PCI for acute coronary syndromes: predictors of exercise capacity improvement in the CR-AGE ACS study.

Background: The positive effect of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on outcomes after acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is established. Nevertheless, enrollment rates into CR programs remain low, although ACS carry a high risk of functional decline particularly in the elderly.

Aim: We aimed to determine if a multidisciplinary CR improves exercise capacity in an older population discharged after ACS systematically treated with PCI.

Impulsivity assessed ten years earlier and sociodemographic factors predict adherence to COVID-19 related behavioral restrictions in old individuals with hypertension.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had clear and dramatic repercussions on health, the economy, and psychosocial well-being. Behavioral measures, such as wearing facemasks and maintaining distance from others, have proven crucial in fighting the contagion's spread. This study aimed to investigate Type A personality traits and sociodemographic predictors of adherence to governmental measures in a sample of frail individuals.

Telehealth Management and Risk Stratification of Older Patients With Chronic Heart Failure During COVID-19 Pandemic: Prognostic Evaluation of the TeleHFCovid19-Score.

Objectives: To evaluate 6-month risk stratification capacity of the newly developed TeleHFCovid19-Score for remote management of older patients with heart failure (HF) during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Design: Monocentric observational prospective study.

Setting And Participants: Older HF outpatients remotely managed during the first pandemic wave.