Prevalence of Cachexia and Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Diseases: A National Database Analysis of 5 484 103 Hospitalisations.

Background: Cachexia is a frequent companion of chronic diseases and a well-established predictor of poor patient performance and outcome. Since cachexia as a discharge diagnosis is not much investigated, we aimed to investigate prevalence of cachexia in hospitalised patients and their outcome.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the National Hospital Health Care Statistics Database using the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases codes.

The Slovenian Version of the Thirst Distress Scale for Patients with Heart Failure: Translation and Psychometric Evaluation.

Unlabelled: Thirst is a common symptom in patients with heart failure (HF), which can cause a high degree of distress. Increased fluid intake due to thirst can lead to clinical deterioration because of shifts in volume status. The thirst assessment should be included in routine patient follow-up; however, only a limited set of validated instruments are available.

Cardiac rehabilitation patient perspectives during COVID-19 pandemic: quantitative and qualitative study.

Background: This study aimed to quantitatively assess stress, anxiety and obsessive thinking related to coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) and qualitatively appraise perceptions in patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing cardiac rehabilitation (CR) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We used mixed-methods design in patients referred for CR in 2 centres which delivered uninterrupted service during COVID-19 pandemic. Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (OCS), COVID-19 Stress Scale (CSS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and in-person interviews (combination of questions and probing) were used to evaluate patient experience and perceptions with COVID-19 and the healthcare services during pandemic.

Dietary Intake of Adolescents and Alignment with Recommendations for Healthy and Sustainable Diets: Results of the SI.Menu Study.

Background: The SI.Menu study offers the latest data on the dietary intake of Slovenian adolescents aged 10 to 17. The purpose of this study is to comprehensively assess their dietary intake (energy and nutrients) and compare their food intakes with dietary recommendations for healthy and sustainable diets.

Energy and Nutritional Composition of School Lunches in Slovenia: The Results of a Chemical Analysis in the Framework of the National School Meals Survey.

Background: Slovenia similar to some European countries has a long tradition of the organized system of school meals. The present survey aimed to compare school lunch composition in Slovene primary schools ( = 40) with the national dietary guidelines; Methods: The survey took place from January to September 2020. Sampling of a 5-day school lunch ( = 200) for adolescents aged 10 to 13 years, were performed in schools.

Self-care perception and behaviour in patients with heart failure: A qualitative and quantitative study.

Background And Objective: Self-care strategies in heart failure (HF) are effective for disease management, yet adherence in many patients is inadequate. Reasons are presumably multifactorial but remain insufficiently investigated; thus, we aimed to analyse self-care adherence and associated factors in outpatients with HF.

Methods And Results: To measure self-care levels and explore barriers and facilitators to self-care adherence in patients with HF, quantitative study using the European Self-Care Behaviour Scale (EHFScBS-9) (n = 80; NYHA II-III, mean age 72 ± 10 years, 58% male) and qualitative study using semi-structured interviews (n = 32; NYHA II-III, mean age 73 ± 11, 63% male) were conducted.

Beliefs and practices regarding electronic cigarettes in smoking cessation among healthcare professionals in Slovenia.

Introduction: Electronic cigarettes (ECs) have generated extensive discussion about their role in smoking cessation. The Slovenia National Institute of Public Health's recommendations state that ECs are not to be recommended for smoking cessation or reduction. The aim of this study was to explore how healthcare professionals working in the field of preventive healthcare and smoking cessation in Slovenia communicate with and counsel patients regarding electronic cigarettes and smoking cessation or reduction.

Living with Chronic Heart Failure: Exploring Patient, Informal Caregiver, and Healthcare Professional Perceptions.

Due to the complexity of heart failure (HF) and its treatment process, a high level of patient and informal caregiver engagement is required for management results. We aimed to explore the views of HF patients, informal caregivers, and healthcare professionals about personal experiences, perceived needs, and barriers to optimal HF management. A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with HF patients ( = 32), their informal caregivers ( = 21), and healthcare professionals ( = 5) was conducted in the outpatient HF clinic in Slovenia in 2018.

Cancer Cachexia and Related Metabolic Dysfunction.

Cancer cachexia is a complex multifactorial syndrome marked by a continuous depletion of skeletal muscle mass associated, in some cases, with a reduction in fat mass. It is irreversible by nutritional support alone and affects up to 74% of patients with cancer-dependent on the underlying type of cancer-and is associated with physical function impairment, reduced response to cancer-related therapy, and higher mortality. Organs, like muscle, adipose tissue, and liver, play an important role in the progression of cancer cachexia by exacerbating the pro- and anti-inflammatory response initially activated by the tumor and the immune system of the host.

Micronutrient Depletion in Heart Failure: Common, Clinically Relevant and Treatable.

Heart failure (HF) is a chronic condition with many imbalances, including nutritional issues. Next to sarcopenia and cachexia which are clinically evident, micronutrient deficiency is also present in HF. It is involved in HF pathophysiology and has prognostic implications.

Heart failure prevalence in the general population: SOBOTA-HF study rationale and design.

Aims: Epidemiological heart failure (HF) data in the era of natriuretic peptides and echocardiography are scarce. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the HF prevalence in the general population. We will also investigate natriuretic peptide cut-off for diagnosis of HF.

Regional differences in heart failure hospitalizations, mortality, and readmissions in Slovenia 2004-2012.

Aims: Heart failure (HF) burden is displaying significant inter-regional differences within Europe and within countries. Due to limited data focusing on regional differences, our aim was to evaluate HF hospitalizations, readmissions, and mortality burden in Slovenian statistical regions.

Methods And Results: The Slovenian National Hospitalization Discharge Registry was searched for HF hospitalizations in patients 20 years or over in the period 2004-12.

A WHO-HPH operational program versus usual routines for implementing clinical health promotion: an RCT in health promoting hospitals (HPH).

Background: Implementation of clinical health promotion (CHP) aiming at better health gain is slow despite its effect. CHP focuses on potentially modifiable lifestyle risks such as smoking, alcohol, diet, and physical inactivity. An operational program was created to improve implementation.

Measuring self-care in patients with heart failure: A review of the psychometric properties of the European Heart Failure Self-Care Behaviour Scale (EHFScBS).

Objective: The aim of this study was to review and evaluate the evidence related to psychometric properties of the European Heart Failure Self-Care Behaviour Scale (EHFScBS) that was developed and tested to measure health maintenance behaviours of heart failure (HF) patients and translated into several languages.

Methods: PRISMA guidelines were used to search major health databases (PubMed, Scopus and ScienceDirect), to identify relevant studies. A literature search was undertaken in November 2015.

Factors related to self-care behaviours in heart failure: A systematic review of European Heart Failure Self-Care Behaviour Scale studies.

Background: Self-care is an important element in the comprehensive management of patients with heart failure. The European Heart Failure Self-Care Behaviour Scale (EHFScBS) was developed and tested to measure behaviours performed by the heart failure patients to maintain life, healthy functioning, and wellbeing.

Aims: The purpose of this review was to evaluate the importance of factors associated with heart failure self-care behaviours as measured by the EHFScBS.

Echocardiographic predictors of outcome in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: We aimed to assess the relationship between echocardiographic characteristics and mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: We prospectively studied 154 patients (mean age 71 ± 10 years, 71% male) with COPD. All patients underwent transthoracic Doppler echocardiography within 48 hours of hospital admission.

Heart failure management in the elderly - a public health challenge.

Heart failure (HF) is a rapidly growing public health problem and the leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and hospitalization in populations > 65 years. The elderly HF patients have an increased prevalence of HF with preserved ejection fraction and comorbidities, may present with atypical symptoms and signs, have a higher risk for adverse drug reactions, and worse prognosis as compared with younger patients. Moreover, there is a lack of evidence-based therapies for this population because they are underrepresented in the clinical trials.

National trends in heart failure hospitalization rates in Slovenia 2004-2012.

Aims: Heart failure (HF) hospitalization rates are decreasing in western Europe, but little is known about trends in central and east European countries. We analysed the Slovenian national hospitalization database to determine the burden of HF hospitalization.

Methods And Results: The Slovenian National Hospital Discharge Registry was searched for HF hospitalizations between 2004 and 2012 in patients aged ≥20 years.

Mortality and readmissions in heart failure: an analysis of 36,824 elderly patients from the Slovenian national hospitalization database.

Background: In heart failure (HF), comorbidity burden and prognostic risks increase with age. Studies investigating outcome in elderly patients from large datasets are lacking, particularly in central and eastern European countries. We analyzed the Slovenian data on mortality and readmissions after first HF hospitalization in patients aged 65 years or over.

Prognostic implications of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in patients with an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Diagnosing heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is difficult due to overlapping pathophysiological pathways, risk factors and clinical presentations. We investigated the prevalence and prognostic implications of coexisting HFpEF in patients hospitalized for acute exacerbation of COPD. A total of 116 consecutive patients with an acute exacerbation of COPD were evaluated for HFpEF and followed for an average period of 22 ± 9 months for the occurrence of death from any cause.

Self-rated health, nutritional intake and mortality in adult hospitalized patients.

Background: In the general population, poor self-rated health (SRH) is associated with malnutrition; however, these associations have not been studied in hospitalized patients. We aimed to evaluate SRH, indicators of nutrition, nutritional status and their association with in-hospital mortality.

Materials And Methods: The study is based on data from the nutritionDay, a multinational, multicentre European-wide standardized 1-day cross-sectional survey of nutritional factors, food intake and in-hospital mortality in hospitalized patients.

Methodological approach in determination of small spatial units in a highly complex terrain in atmospheric pollution research: the case of Zasavje region in Slovenia.

The study of atmospheric air pollution research in complex terrains is challenged by the lack of appropriate methodology supporting the analysis of the spatial relationship between phenomena affected by a multitude of factors. The key is optimal design of a meaningful approach based on small spatial units of observation. The Zasavje region, Slovenia, was chosen as study area with the main objective to investigate in practice the role of such units in a test environment.