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.

Associations Between Echocardiographic Right Heart Measurements With Short-Term Prognosis in Heart Failure: A Prospective Study.

Background: Echocardiographic right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is a strong risk determinant for prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF). Although parameters of RV systolic function are widely used to define RV dysfunction, there is scarce data to suggest these parameters are best suited to predict HF-related outcomes.

Aims: We aimed to understand which morphologic or functional parameters are most closely associated with short-term mortality and HF-related hospitalization in patients with HF.

Adherence to Current Dyslipidemia Guideline in Patients Utilizing Statins According to Risk Groups and Gender Differences: The AIZANOI Study.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the adherence to the current European Society of Cardiology dyslipidemia guidelines, the ratio of reaching target values according to risk groups, and the reasons for not reaching LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) goals in patients on already statin therapy in a cardiology outpatient population.

Methods: The AIZANOI study is a multi-center, cross-sectional observational study including conducted in 9 cardiology centers between August 1, 2021, and November 1, 2021.

Results: A total of 1225 patients (mean age 62 ± 11 years, 366 female) who were already on statin therapy for at least 3 months were included.

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.

Assessment of Right Ventricular Systolic Function with 3-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in Isolated Mild Mitral Stenosis.

Background: In rheumatic severe mitral stenosis, right ventricular mechanics deteriorate with the increasing severity of mitral stenosis. Therefore, we aimed to investigate right ventricular mechanics in patients with mild mitral stenosis using 3-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.

Methods: In total, 40 patients with mild mitral stenosis and 36 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were included.

The association between the configuration of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and right atrial contractile strain.

Background: In the descending arm of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), there is notch formation that corresponds to the contractile phase of the atrial strain curve. Theoretically, this notch formation stands for atrial contraction.

Aims: We aim to characterize notch formation on TAPSE, predictors of its existence, and its relationship with the right ventricle and right atrial strain (RAS) parameters.

Alterations in right ventricular mechanics in patients with Behcet's disease.

Manifest myocardial involvement is somewhat rare in patients with Behcet's disease (BD), although echocardiographic studies suggest that subclinical alterations in left ventricular (LV) contractility is rather common. Data on right ventricular (RV) involvement in BD is rather scarce. This study aims to determine whether RV systolic performance is affected in BD patients, and to understand the clinical and echocardiographic correlates of RV contractility in these patients.

Dynamic Change of Left Ventricular Mechanics in Patients with Acute Myocarditis with Preserved Left Ventricular Systolic Function: A 2-Year Follow-up Study.

Objective: Acute myocarditis mimics acute coronary syndrome due to its clinical course and presentation. This study aimed to evaluate left ventricular longitudinal and circumferential functions during the acute phase and late phase of acute myocarditis with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction using 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.

Methods: Forty-one consecutive acute myocarditis patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction confirmed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging underwent 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography within the first week of hospital admission.

The Mean Corrected TIMI Frame Count Could Predict Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Coronary Slow-Flow Phenomenon.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between the mean corrected thrombolysis in myocardial frame count and major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with the coronary slow-flow phenomenon.

Methods: A total of 98 patients with coronary slow-flow phenomenon who met inclusion cri- teria from 2015 to 2020 were retrospectively included in the analysis. The patients were ranked according to their mean corrected thrombolysis in myocardial frame count values and were divided into quartiles based on those.

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.