Peak systolic blood pressure during preparticipation exercise testing in 12,083 athletes: age, sex, and workload-indexed values and predictors.

Aim: Assessment of blood pressure during exercise is routine in athletes, but normal values remain equivocal. This study examines the response of systolic blood pressure (SBP) to exercise in a large cohort of athletes and establishes normative values by sex and age.

Methods: Competitive athletes free of cardiovascular disease underwent pre-participation exercise testing on a bicycle ergometer.

Interventions for increasing medication adherence in heart failure patients: A narrative review.

Heart failure is one of the critical and most costly medical challenges of the 21st century. It is a chronic debilitating condition and adherence to medication, a precondition for successful treatment is often poor. There are various interventions for improving the adherence.

Long-term trajectory of renal dysfunction and related risk factors in patients with apparently treatment-resistant and non-resistant arterial hypertension.

Evidence suggests that renal function increasingly deteriorates in patients with apparently treatment-resistant hypertension (ATRH) in comparison with those who have non-resistant arterial hypertension (NAH). We aimed to assess the long-term decline in renal function between these patient groups and identify specific risk factors contributing to the progression of renal dysfunction. Data for 265 patients with ATRH and NAH in a hypertension excellence centre were retrospectively evaluated.

Exercise-Induced Blood Pressure Dynamics: Insights from the General Population and the Athletic Cohort.

Blood pressure (BP) dynamics during graded exercise testing provide important insights into cardiovascular health, particularly in athletes. These measurements, taken during intense physical exertion, complement and often enhance our understanding beyond traditional resting BP measurements. Historically, the challenge has been to distinguish 'normal' from 'exaggerated' BP responses in the athletic environment.

COVID-19 reduces cardiorespiratory fitness even months after a mild to moderate acute phase: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: COVID-19 survivors may experience long-term health problems, including deterioration of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), as demonstrated by several cross-sectional studies that compared the results of cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) performed only after COVID-19 with predicted values. This study aimed to analyze a change in CRF between repeated CPETs in response to suffered COVID-19.

Methods: A total of 127 healthcare workers (HCWs; mean age 55.

Preparticipation Screening of Athletes: The Prevalence of Positive Family History.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a leading cause of death among athletes, and those with a positive family history (FH) of SCD and/or cardiovascular disease (CVD) may be at increased risk. The primary objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and predictors of positive FH of SCD and CVD in athletes using four widely used preparticipation screening (PPS) systems. The secondary objective was to compare the functionality of the screening systems.

Post-COVID Syndrome and Cardiorespiratory Fitness-26-Month Experience of Single Center.

Introduction: Persistent post-COVID syndrome, also referred to as long COVID, is a pathologic entity that involves persistent physical, medical, and cognitive sequelae following COVID-19. Decreased fitness has repeatedly been reported in numerous studies dealing with post-COVID syndrome, however, it is still not fully clear which groups of patients may be more susceptible for persisting symptoms.

Aim: The aim of our study was to evaluate the number of post-COVID patients with cardiac symptoms, where these patients were evaluated by CPET and the results compared with a control group of patients.

Pharmacotherapy of diabetes mellitus in patients with heart failure - a nation-wide analysis of contemporary treatment.

Aim: Retrospective national sub-analysis of antidiabetic pharmacotherapy in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and heart failure (HF) based on data reported to the National Register of Paid Health Services in the Czech Republic between 2012-2018.

Methodology And Results: In 2012, there were 75,022 patients with HF and DM (i.e.

Directly Measured Adherence to Treatment in Chronic Heart Failure: LEVEL-CHF Registry.

Background: Currently, most available data on the medication adherence of patients with chronic heart failure are based on indirect methods. We examined the level of adherence to medical therapy using a direct method - serum drug level testing.

Methods: We carried out a prospective single-centre registry of patients with chronic heart failure (LEVEL-CHF registry), in whom we analysed serum levels of the medications prescribed for the treatment of heart failure: angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists.

[Longterm mechanical circulatory support for chronic heart failure - real life practice].

Thanks to developments in pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of heart failure over the last half century, there has been improved quality of life and reduced mortality and morbidity. Despite these advances, the prognosis of advanced heart failure remains poor and the number of patients with terminal heart failure is currently increasing. In the general medical community, knowledge of pharmacological and device therapy with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or resynchronization therapy is prevalent.