A comparative review of coronary computed tomography angiography and myocardial perfusion imaging.

Coronary artery disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Non-invasive imaging techniques have revolutionized the diagnosis and management of coronary artery disease. This review aims to compare the utility and effectiveness of two emerging non-invasive imaging modalities: coronary computed tomography angiography and myocardial perfusion imaging.

Incidence of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a single center retrospective analysis.

Background: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is an acute and usually reversible condition that often mimics the course of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), making it particularly challenging to differentiate, especially in the initial phases. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the incidence, clinical course, examination results, and in-hospital mortality of TTC in patients with ACS hospitalized at our cardiology center from January 2018 to October 2023.

Results: During the study period, a total of 3835 selective coronary angiograms were urgently performed at our facility, with a diagnosis of TTC established in 52 (1.

Five-year prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the mortality and prognosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) initially admitted to Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care in comparison with patients initially admitted to Cardiac Centre (CC).

Background: Global acute coronary syndrome (ACS) registries often omit patients with OHCA initially admitted to anaesthesiology and intensive care units. This exclusion may lead to underestimated mortality rates in patients following acute MI worldwide.

Adenosine vs. regadenoson for stress induction in dynamic CT perfusion scan of the myocardium: A single‑center retrospective comparison.

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) angiography offers several approaches to determine the hemodynamic severity of coronary artery obstruction. Dynamic myocardial perfusion is based on serial CT imaging of contrast flow into the myocardium and calculation of absolute myocardial perfusion rates. East-Slovak Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases has been the first center in Slovakia intensively using this modern technique to increase the quality level of non-invasive diagnosis of symptomatic patients with a low to moderate pre-test probability of ischemic heart disease.

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.

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.

Significant benefits of new communication technology for time delay management in STEMI patients.

Background: In the acute phase of STEMI, the length of the total ischemic interval is the principal factor affecting both short- and long-term mortality. The length of the interval remains a global problem, and in EU countries these figures vary between 160 and 325 min.

Methods And Results: The aim of our research was to assess the benefit of the systematic implementation of the new smartphone-based communication technology "STEMI" enabling immediate ECG picture and voice consultation between an EMS crew in the field and a cardiologist in the PCI-center.

Explaining the decline in coronary heart disease mortality rates in the Slovak Republic between 1993-2008.

Objective: Between the years 1993 and 2008, mortality rates from coronary heart disease (CHD) in the Slovak Republic have decreased by almost one quarter. However, this was a smaller decline than in neighbouring countries. The aim of this modelling study was therefore to quantify the contributions of risk factor changes and the use of evidence-based medical therapies to the CHD mortality decline between 1993 and 2008.

Differences between Slovak and Dutch patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass graft surgery regarding clinical and psychosocial predictors of physical and mental health-related quality of life.

Background: Differences in health-related quality of life in coronary artery disease patients and associated factors between patients of central and western European descent are rarely investigated. We aim to test differences between Dutch and Slovak health-related quality of life, whether nationality predicted health-related quality of life and if standardised beta weights of health-related quality of life determinants differ across countries.

Design: An observational multicentre study at university cardiac centres in the Netherlands and Slovakia.

Polymer-free sirolimus-eluting stents in a large-scale all-comers population.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of a polymer-free sirolimus coated, ultrathin strut drug-eluting stent (PF-SES) in an unselected patient population with a focus on acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Furthermore, stable coronary artery disease (CAD) with short (≤6 months) versus long (>6 months) dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) were also studied.

Methods: Patients who received PF-SES were investigated in an unselected large-scale international, single-armed, multicenter, 'all comers' observational study.

Prevalence of Conventional Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes in Slovakia.

Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a major health problem and the leading cause of death and disability in Slovakia. This is the first study to describe the prevalence rate of conventional cardiovascular risk factors in patients hospitalized for ACS.

Methods: Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and cigarette smoking were documented in 1,567 cases (mean age, SD: 66.

Seven years' mortality in Roma and non-Roma patients after coronary angiography.

Background: Ethnicity is associated with differences in clinical course and outcomes of cardiac disease, often in association with a poorer socioeconomic position. The aim of this study was to compare the mortality after coronary angiography (CAG) of Roma and non-Roma patients matched for education and adjusted for gender and age.

Methods: In total, 816 patients were included in the study (167 Roma and 649 non-Roma).

Reperfusion therapy for ST elevation acute myocardial infarction 2010/2011: current status in 37 ESC countries.

Aims: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the preferred reperfusion therapy in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We conducted this study to evaluate the contemporary status on the use and type of reperfusion therapy in patients admitted with STEMI in the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) member countries.

Methods And Results: A cross-sectional descriptive study based on aggregated country-level data on the use of reperfusion therapy in patients admitted with STEMI during 2010 or 2011.

Effect of rosuvastatin therapy on troponin I release following percutaneous coronary intervention in nonemergency patients (from the TIP 3 study).

Several randomized studies have suggested that pretreatment with statins may reduce a periprocedural biomarker release in patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); however, results remain controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a 1-day rosuvastatin therapy on troponin I release in patients who underwent nonemergency PCI. A total of 445 patients with angina pectoris were randomly assigned to therapy with rosuvastatin (20 mg 12 hours before coronary angiography + 20 mg immediately before PCI; rosuvastatin group, 220 patients) or PCI without statin therapy (control group, 225 patients).

Sense of coherence as a predictor of health-related behaviours among patients with coronary heart disease.

Aims: A high sense of coherence (SOC) has been found to be associated with favourable health-related behaviours. However, evidence is for the most part lacking on the influence of SOC on health-related behaviours among coronary heart disease patients. The aim of this study was to explore the association between SOC at baseline and smoking status, nutrition behaviour, physical exercise and alcohol consumption of coronary heart disease patients 12-28 months after they had undergone different cardiac treatments.

Left ventricular morphology and function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Congestive heart failure (CHF) and inflammation are important contributors to the excess of overall morbidity and mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). CHF rather than ischaemic heart disease (IHD) appears to participate on the mortality in these patients. However, there are controversial results about significance of plasma N-terminal of pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and other inflammatory markers investigation for an early detection of heart dysfunction.

Acute and long-term effect of infliximab on humoral and echocardiographic parameters in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases, i.e., rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), Crohn's disease (CD), and ulcerative colitis (UC).

Sense of coherence as an independent predictor of health-related quality of life among coronary heart disease patients.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether sense of coherence (SOC) at baseline predicts health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at 12-28-month follow-up among patients with coronary heart disease when controlled for sociodemographic and medical variables.

Methods: A total of 179 consecutive patients (58.28 ± 6.

Implementation of ESC-STEMI guidelines into clinical practice: an analysis of the Slovak Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes (SLOVAKS).

This study analysed the implementation of official European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for the management of ST elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. Initiatives were aimed at the education of both healthcare professionals and inhabitants. Changes in clinical practice and clinical outputs were analysed using data acquired from the SLOVak registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes (SLOVAKS).

Psychosocial factors of coronary heart disease and quality of life among Roma coronary patients: a study matched by socioeconomic position.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess whether psychosocial factors and health-related quality of life (HRQL) differ between Roma and non-Roma coronary patients and to what degree socioeconomic status (SES) explains these differences.

Methods: We included 138 patients out of 437 interviewed: 46 Roma, all with low SES, 46 non-Roma with low SES, and 46 non-Roma with high SES. Groups were matched for age, gender and education.

Reperfusion therapy for ST elevation acute myocardial infarction in Europe: description of the current situation in 30 countries.

Aims: Patient access to reperfusion therapy and the use of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (p-PCI) or thrombolysis (TL) varies considerably between European countries. The aim of this study was to obtain a realistic contemporary picture of how patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are treated in different European countries.

Methods And Results: The chairpersons of the national working groups/societies of interventional cardiology in European countries and selected experts known to be involved in the national registries joined the writing group upon invitation.

Socioeconomic inequalities in quality of life and psychological outcomes among cardiac patients.

Objectives: The aim of this article is to explore socioeconomic inequalities in the psychological characteristics (psychological well-being, perceived mental health status) and perceived quality of life among cardiac patients.

Methods: A structured interview was conducted with 362 patients (32% women, mean age 56 +/- 7.3 years) referred for coronary angiography.

Socioeconomic differences in psychosocial factors contributing to coronary heart disease: a review.

Psychosocial factors have been shown to play an important role in the aetiology of coronary heart disease (CHD). A strong association between CHD and socioeconomic status (lower-level education, poor financial situation) has also been well established. Socioeconomic differences may thus also have an effect on psychosocial risk factors associated with CHD, and socioeconomic disadvantage may negatively affect the later prognosis and quality of life of cardiac patients.

Vital exhaustion in coronary heart disease: the impact of socioeconomic status.

Background: Vital exhaustion has been shown to be a significant risk factor contributing to coronary heart disease, as well as a predictor of a worse prognosis among coronary patients. Socioeconomic differences in vital exhaustion may be part of the causal mechanism in the health and mortality inequalities connected with socioeconomic disadvantage. Our aim was to explore socioeconomic inequalities in vital exhaustion among coronary patients.