Predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic healthy non-diabetic postmenopausal women.

Background And Aim: Cardiovascular disease progresses after menopause. Conventional risk factors, particularly diabetes, for atherosclerosis are well-established predictors of phenotypic arterial disease. The aim of this study is to assess the predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic non-diabetic postmenopausal women.

Management and clinical outcome of myocardial infarction in Kosovo: A cross-sectional study.

Background And Aims: Myocardial infarction (MI) is cause of mortality worldwide, irrespective of its presentation as non-ST-segment elevation MI (NSTEMI) or ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI). The objective of this study was to assess national results of management and clinical outcome of acute MI patients in Kosovo.

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study, conducted at the Clinic of Cardiology of the University Clinical Center of Kosovo, in Prishtina, included all patients hospitalized with acute MI over a period of 7 years (2014-2020).

Takotsubo Syndrome: An International Expert Consensus Report on Practical Challenges and Specific Conditions (Part-2: Specific Entities, Risk Stratification and Challenges After Recovery).

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) still remains as an enigmatic phenomenon. In particular, long-term challenges (including clinical recurrence and persistent symptoms) and specific entities in the setting of TTS have been the evolving areas of interest. On the other hand, a significant gap still exists regarding the proper risk-stratification of this phenomenon in the short and long terms.

Takotsubo Syndrome: An International Expert Consensus Report on Practical Challenges and Specific Conditions (Part-1: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges).

In the recent years, there has been a burgeoning interest in Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), which is renowned as a specific form of reversible myocardial dysfunction. Despite the extensive literature available on TTS, clinicians still face several practical challenges associated with the diagnosis and management of this phenomenon. This potentially results in the underdiagnosis and improper management of TTS in clinical practice.

The Rationale and Design of the KOSovan Acute Coronary Syndrome (KOS-ACS) Registry.

The KOSovan Acute Coronary Syndrome (KOS-ACS) Registry is established as a prospective, continuous, nationwide, web-based registry that is operated online. The KOS-ACS registry is designed with the following objectives: (1) to obtain data on the demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of ACS patients treated in Kosovo; (2) to create a national database with information on health care in ACS patients treated in Kosovo; (3) to identify the national features of associations between ACS characteristics and clinical outcomes, including mortality, complications, the length of hospital stay, and the quality of clinical care; and (4) to propose a practical guide for improving the quality and efficiency of ACS treatment in Kosovo. The Kosovo Society of Cardiology and University of Prishtina will be responsible for the development of the KOS-ACS registry and centralized data analysis at the national level.

One-Month Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Reduces Major Bleeding Compared With Longer-Term Treatment Without Excess Stent Thrombosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) remains the gold standard in patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the clinical safety of 1-month DAPT followed by aspirin or a P2Y12 receptor inhibitor after PCI with drug-eluting stents (DES). We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, Cochrane Central Registry, and ClinicalTrials.

Smoking and Hypertriglyceridemia Predict ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Kosovo Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI), presented as ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation MI (NSTEMI), is influenced by atherosclerosis risk factors.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the patterns of presentation of patients with acute MI in Kosovo.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo, which included all patients hospitalized with acute MI over a period of 7 years.

Ventricular septal defect associated with aortic regurgitation and ascending aortic aneurysm: a case report.

Introduction: Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is one of the most common congenital cardiac anomalies. Patients with perimembranous VSD may have aortic regurgitation (AR) secondary to prolapse of the aortic cusp.

Case Presentation: We present a case of 23-year-old White man with VSD, AR and ascending aortic aneurysm.

The association between daily step count and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: a meta-analysis.

Aims: There is good evidence showing that inactivity and walking minimal steps/day increase the risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease and general ill-health. The optimal number of steps and their role in health is, however, still unclear. Therefore, in this meta-analysis, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between step count and all-cause mortality and CV mortality.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Is Not Superior to Optimal Medical Therapy in Chronic Coronary Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis.

(1) Background and Aim: Conflicting evidence exists regarding the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on survival and symptomatic relief of patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) compared with optimal medical therapy (OMT). This meta-analysis is to evaluate the short- and long-term clinical benefit of PCI over and above OMT in CCS. (2) Methods: Main endpoints were major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), all-cause mortality, cardiovascular (CV) mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), urgent revascularization, stroke hospitalization, and quality of life (QoL).

Acute pericarditis as a major clinical manifestation of long COVID-19 syndrome.

Background: The long COVID-19 syndrome has been recently described and some reports have suggested that acute pericarditis represents important manifestation of long COVID-19 syndrome. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence and clinical characteristics of patients with long COVID-19, presenting with acute pericarditis.

Methods: We retrospectively included 180 patients (median age 47 years, 62% female) previously diagnosed with COVID-19, exhibiting persistence or new-onset symptoms ≥12 weeks from a negative naso-pharyngeal SARS CoV2 swamp test.

Care of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: an international analysis of quality indicators in the acute coronary syndrome STEMI Registry of the EURObservational Research Programme and ACVC and EAPCI Associations of the European Society of Cardiology in 11 462 patients.

Aims: To use quality indicators to study the management of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in different regions.

Methods And Results: Prospective cohort study of STEMI within 24 h of symptom onset (11 462 patients, 196 centres, 26 European Society of Cardiology members, and 3 affiliated countries). The median delay between arrival at a percutaneous cardiovascular intervention (PCI) centre and primary PCI was 40 min (interquartile range 20-74) with 65.

Left Ventricular Myocardial and Cavity Velocity Disturbances Are Powerful Predictors of Significant Coronary Artery Stenosis.

Background and Aim: Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is a well-established noninvasive investigation for significant coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of cardiac Doppler parameters in predicting CAD. Methods: We prospectively studied 103 consecutive patients with suspected CAD based on typical symptoms; 59 proved to have CAD, and 44 patients proved to have no-CAD (n = 44).

Step-by-step diagnosis and management of the nocebo/drucebo effect in statin-associated muscle symptoms patients: a position paper from the International Lipid Expert Panel (ILEP).

Statin intolerance is a clinical syndrome whereby adverse effects (AEs) associated with statin therapy [most commonly statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS)] result in the discontinuation of therapy and consequently increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, complete statin intolerance occurs in only a small minority of treated patients (estimated prevalence of only 3-5%). Many perceived AEs are misattributed (e.

Diabetes Is the Strongest Predictor of Limited Exercise Capacity in Chronic Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF).

Background And Aim: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a known risk factor in patients with heart failure (HF), but its impact on phenotypic presentations remains unclear. This study aimed to prospectively examine the relationship between T2DM and functional exercise capacity, assessed by the 6-min walk test (6-MWT) in chronic HF.

Methods: We studied 344 chronic patients with HF (mean age 61 ± 10 years, 54% female) in whom clinical, biochemical, and anthropometric data were available and all patients underwent an echo-Doppler study and a 6-MWT on the same day.

Non-inferiority of 1 month longer dual antiplatelet therapy in patients undergoing PCI with drug-eluting stents: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Aim: The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the safety of 1-month dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) followed by aspirin or a P2Y12 receptor inhibitor, after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES), based on the available evidence.

Methods: PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov database search identified four RCTs of 26,431 patients who underwent PCI with DES and compared 1-month >1-month DAPT.

Biomarkers Predict In-Hospital Major Adverse Cardiac Events in COVID-19 Patients: A Multicenter International Study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic carries a high burden of morbidity and mortality worldwide. We aimed to identify possible predictors of in-hospital major cardiovascular (CV) events in COVID-19.

Methods: We retrospectively included patients hospitalized for COVID-19 from 10 centers.

Improved diastolic dysfunction is associated with higher forward flow and better prognosis in chronic heart failure.

The benefit of repeat assessment of left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function in heart failure (HF) remains uncertain. We assessed the prognostic value of repeat echocardiographic assessment of LV filling pressure (LVFP) and its interaction with cardiac index (CI) in ambulatory patients with chronic HF and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). We enrolled 357 patients (age 68 ± 11 years; 22% female) with chronic HFrEF.

Efficacy and safety of colchicine in patients with coronary artery disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Aims: Inflammation plays a central role in the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis. Randomized controlled trials have investigated the potential benefit of colchicine in reducing cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) but produced conflicting results. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of colchicine in patients with CAD.

Reperfusion therapies and in-hospital outcomes for ST-elevation myocardial infarction in Europe: the ACVC-EAPCI EORP STEMI Registry of the European Society of Cardiology.

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the contemporary use of reperfusion therapy in the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) member and affiliated countries and adherence to ESC clinical practice guidelines in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods And Results: Prospective cohort (EURObservational Research Programme STEMI Registry) of hospitalized STEMI patients with symptom onset <24 h in 196 centres across 29 countries. A total of 11 462 patients were enrolled, for whom primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (total cohort frequency: 72.

Radial Access for Coronary Angiography Carries Fewer Complications Compared with Femoral Access: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background And Aim: In patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography (CA) and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), the benefits associated with radial access compared with the femoral access approach remain controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the short-term evidence-based clinical outcome of the two approaches.

Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.

Left atrial stiffness predicts cardiac events in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction: The impact of diabetes.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between diabetes mellitus (DM) and left atrial (LA) remodelling in a group of patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and their combined impact on cardiac events (CE).

Methods: This study included 136 consecutive HFrEF patients (65 ± 11 years), 36 had DM, and 86 had increased LA stiffness (LASt). All patients underwent complete conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiographic measurements were made including LA volumes and function.

Left Ventricular Diastolic and Systolic Functions in Patients with Hypothyroidism.

: Long standing hypothyroidism may impair myocardial relaxation, but its effect on systolic myocardial function is still controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function in patients with hypothyroidism. : This study included 81 (age 42 ± 13 years, 92% female) patients with hypothyroidism, and 22 age and gender matched controls.

Correction to: Association of statin use and clinical outcomes in heart failure patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.