Epidemiology of heart failure in Türkiye.

Background/aim: The epidemiological data on heart failure (HF) vary between regions within the same country. We aimed to investigate the epidemiological data on HF in Türkiye across all age groups regarding seven geographical regions.

Materials And Methods: We included all patients from the Turkish population who received a first diagnosis of HF between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2022, using ICD-10 codes from the National Electronic Healthcare Database.

Diagnostic approach to heart failure in Türkiye.

Background/aim: Final diagnosis of heart failure (HF) relies on a combination clinical findings, laboratory and imaging tests. The aim of this study was to review the diagnostic approach to HF in Türkiye.

Materials And Methods: This study is a subanalysis of the nationwide TRends-HF study, based on anonymized data from National Electronic Database between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2022.

Medical and advanced heart failure therapies in Türkiye.

Background/aim: Effective management of heart failure involves evidence-based use of multiple medications and their combinations. Furthermore, dosage escalation of the recommended medications is advised. In cases of advanced heart failure, long-term mechanical assistance devices or heart transplantation surgery may be necessary.

Outcomes of patients with heart failure in Türkiye.

Background/aim: Despite Türkiye's relatively young population, there is an emerging trend of earlier diagnoses of chronic diseases, including heart failure (HF). This study aims to shed light on survival rates, potential influences of guideline-directed therapies, and sex-based differences necessitating personalized management in HF.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort analysis of 2,722,151 patients with HF using deidentified data from the Turkish Ministry of Health's national electronic database.

Burden of comorbidities in heart failure patients in Türkiye.

Background/aim: Heart failure (HF) is associated with a wide range of comorbidities that negatively impact clinical outcomes and cause high economic burden. We aimed to evaluate the frequency and burden of comorbidities in HF patients in Türkiye and their relationships with patients' demographic characteristics.

Materials And Methods: Based on ICD-10 codes in the national electronic database of the Turkish Ministry of Health covering the entire population of Türkiye (n = 85,279,553) from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2022, data on the prevalence of comorbidities in HF patients were obtained.

Evaluation of right ventricular mechanics using exercise echocardiography in asymptomatic patients with severe mitral stenosis.

We aimed to evaluate the effect of exercise echocardiography (EE) on Right ventricular (RV) deformation parameters in asymptomatic patients with severe rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) (mitral valve area ≤ 1.5 cm, stage C) and to determine the relation between symptoms and severity of MS. 38 rheumatic MS patients in stage C underwent EE.

Trends in heart failure between 2016 and 2022 in Türkiye (TRends-HF): a nationwide retrospective cohort study of 85 million individuals across entire population of all ages.

Background: Data on the burden of heart failure (HF) outside western countries are limited, but available data suggest it may present differently in other countries. The aim of this study was to examine the incidence, prevalence, and survival rates of HF in Türkiye, with a specific focus on how these rates vary according to age, sex, comorbidities, and socioeconomic status (SES).

Methods: We harnessed the extensive National Electronic Database of the Turkish Ministry of Health, covering Turkey's entire population from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2022, to identify 2,722,151 cases of HF and their associated comorbidities using ICD-10 codes.

The effect of urgent blood pressure reduction on left atrial strain in patients with hypertensive attack : Blood pressure lowering affects LA strain.

Background: Left atrial (LA) strain is a robust measure of LA function and is a useful parameter to assess left ventricular filling pressure. While initially considered as a "load-independent" parameter of LA function, later studies have found that acute changes in LA preload may affect LA reservoir and contractile strains. Acute alterations in blood pressure (BP) induces a change in left ventricular (LV) filling pressure without imposing a volume load, thus providing an opportunity to assess the effects of the change in LA afterload on LA mechanics.

Which is the best for the warfarin monitoring: Following up by fixed or variable physician?

Objective: Warfarin therapy has some difficulties in terms of close monitoring and dosage. This study aims to evaluate the effect of same-fixed versus different-variable physician-based monitoring of warfarin therapy on treatment quality and clinical end-points.

Methods: A total of 625 consecutive patients requiring warfarin treatment were enrolled at seven centers.

Frontal QRS-T angle may predict reverse dipping pattern in masked hypertensives.

Aims: The frontal QRS-T (fQRST) angle is associated with worse cardiovascular outcome. The study aimed to assess the effect of reverse dipping pattern on f(QRST) angle in newly diagnosed masked hypertensive (MH) patients.

Materials And Methods: Newly diagnosed 244 consecutive MH patients were included.

Heart rate variability and cardiac autonomic functions in post-COVID period.

Background: The heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive, objective and validated method for the assessment of autonomic nervous system. Although acute manifestations of COVID-19 were widely researched, long-term sequela of COVID-19 are still unknown. This study aimed to analyze autonomic function using HRV indices in the post-COVID period that may have a potential to enlighten symptoms of COVID long-haulers.

Predictive value of the age, creatinine and ejection fraction score in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention with bail-out tirofiban therapy.

Introduction: In patients who have undergone interventional cardiac procedures, the risk of bleeding is higher than in patients who received conservative treatment due to multiple medications and comorbidities.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of the age, creatinine and ejection fraction (ACEF) score for predicting bleeding events and to compare short- and long-term clinical outcomes according to the ACEF score in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) with bail-out tirofiban therapy (BOTT).

Material And Methods: A total of 2,543 patients were included and divided into three groups according to the following ACEF score tertiles: T1 (ACEF ≤ 1.

Differences in clinical and echocardiographic variables and mortality predictors among older patients with pulmonary embolism.

Background: An increase in short-term mortality can be found among older patients with hemodynamically stable acute pulmonary embolism (APE) who have signs of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction.

Aims: This study was designed to assess whether any difference exists among clinical, laboratory, electrocardiography and echocardiography parameters between older and younger patients diagnosed with APE.

Methods: The study sample included a total of 635 patients with confirmed APE who were divided into two groups of older (65 years and older) and younger (younger than 65 years) individuals.

Comparison of quantitative and qualitative coronary angiography: computer versus the eye.

Objective: Since visual estimation of the extent of vessel stenosis may vary between operators, we aimed in this study to investigate both inter-observer variability and consistency between the estimation of an operator and quantitative coronary analysis (QCA) measurements.

Methods: A total of 147 elective percutaneous coronary intervention patients with 155 lesions between them were consecutively enrolled in the study. These patients were evaluated for visual estimation of lesion severity by three operators.

An unusual "mass" within the left atrium: Localized aneurysm of a patent foramen ovale tunnel.

Masses on the interatrial septum are usually caused by myxomas or thrombi within a patent foramen ovale. We report a 53-year-old male patient with a hollow mass within the left atrium that was incidentally found during a routine transthoracic echocardiography. Further investigation of the mass with transesophageal two- and three-dimensional echocardiography has revealed that the mass was a localized aneurysm of a patent foramen ovale tunnel.

One-year results of primary stenting for TASC II D lesions of the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries.

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the safety and the efficacy of primary stenting to treat Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus II (TASC) D femoropopliteal lesions. Background Advances in wire, balloon and stent design have been reported to improve the durability of stenting of longer femoropopliteal lesions. Methods A total of 57 limbs of 53 patients with Rutherford stage 3 to 6 due to TASC D femoropopliteal lesions were treated with a self-expanding nitinol stent in a prospective, single-centre, observational study.

Early changes in atrial conduction times in hypertensive patients with elevated pulse pressure.

Objective: Pulse pressure (PP) is the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and is an independent predictor of atrial fibrillation (AF). In this study we investigated the relationship between PP and atrial conduction times.

Methods: The study included 157 patients with essential hypertension.

Drug Adherence in Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation Taking Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants in Turkey: NOAC-TR.

Adherence to non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) is an important factor for ensuring efficacy and safety in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). There are controversial results regarding NOAC adherence in real-world data and there are no data about NOAC adherence in Turkish population. This study investigated the NOAC adherence based on self-report, factors affecting nonadherence, and the relation of the adherence level with efficacy and safety outcomes.

Which Coronary Lesions Are More Prone to Cause Acute Myocardial Infarction?

Background:: According to common belief, most myocardial infarctions (MIs) are due to the rupture of nonsevere, vulnerable plaques with < 70% obstruction. Data from recent trials challenge this belief, suggesting that the risk of coronary occlusion is, in fact, much higher after severe stenosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not acute ST-elevation MIs result from high-grade stenoses by evaluating the presence of coronary collateral circulation (CCC).

Right Ventricular Dysfunction Complicates Time in Therapeutic Range in Heart Failure Patients Receiving Warfarin.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the effect of echocardiographically demonstrated right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) on time in therapeutic range (TTR) in heart failure (HF) patients receiving warfarin therapy.

Methods: A total of 893 consecutive HF patients were included and classified into 4 different subgroups: HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) without RVD (n = 373), HF with reduced EF (HFrEF) without RVD (n = 215), HFpEF with RVD (n = 106) and HFrEF with RVD (n = 199). Groups were compared according to baseline, demographic and clinical data and the characteristics of warfarin therapy.

Atrial Electromechanical Coupling in Patients with Lichen Planus.

Background And Objectives: A chronic inflammatory disease, lichen planus may cause disturbance of atrial electromechanical coupling and increase the risk of atrial fibrillation. The aim of this study was to evaluate atrial electromechanical delay with both electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography in patients with lichen planus (LP).

Subjects And Methods: Seventy-two LP patients (43 males [59.

The practical value of technetium-99m-MIBI SPET to differentiate between ischemic and non-ischemic heart failure presenting with exertional dyspnea.

Objective: We aimed to differentiate ischemic heart failure (HF) from non-ischemic HF in patients presenting with non-acute onset exertional dyspnea using technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile gated single photon emission tomography ((99m)Tc-MIBI gSPET) imaging.

Subjects And Methods: One hundred and seventy nine consecutive patients with exertional dyspnea without concomitant chest pain referred to (99m)Tc-MIBI gSPET imaging were included in this study. All patients had a newly diagnosed HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Long-term outcome in patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis: results from a single center in Turkey.

Objective: Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Information regarding the long-term outcome of PVE is scarce in Turkey. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term mortality rates of PVE and identify predictors of mortality in these patients.

The effects of air pollution and weather conditions on the incidence of acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: In this retrospective study, we investigated the association between air pollution and weather conditions with the incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the city of Kutahya.

Methods: A total of 402 patients who were admitted with acute ST segment elevation MI and non-ST segment elevation MI were included in the study in 1 year. Daily maximum, minimum, and mean ambient temperature and mean barometric pressure data were obtained from the Kutahya Meteorology Department.

Atrial Electromechanical Properties in Coeliac Disease.

Background: Coeliac disease (CD) is an autoimmune and inflammatory disorder of the small intestine. There is reasonable evidence linking inflammation to the initiation and continuation of atrial fibrillation (AF) in inflammatory conditions. Atrial electro-mechanic delay (EMD) was suggested as an early marker of AF in previous studies.