Turkish Real Life Atrial Fibrillation in Clinical Practice: TRAFFIC Study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia worldwide and is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolism, ischemic stroke, impaired quality of life, and mortality. The latest research that shows the prevalence and incidence of AF patients in Türkiye was the Turkish Adults' Heart Disease and Risk Factors study, which included 3,450 patients and collected data until 2006/07.The Turkish Real Life Atrial Fibrillation in Clinical Practice (TRAFFIC) study is planned to present current prevalence data, reveal the reflection of new treatment and risk approaches in our country, and develop new prediction models in terms of outcomes.

Predictors of Pacemaker-Induced Cardiomyopathy and Importance of Nutritional Status and Prognostic Nutritional Index.

Background: Long-term right ventricular (RV) pacing may cause progressive left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and malnutrition is related to adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with heart failure. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between immunonutritional status and the development of pacing-induced cardiomyopathy (PICMP).

Methods: This study included 434 patients who underwent permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation and had preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of > 40%.

C-Reactive Protein to Albumin Ratio as A Novel Inflammatory-Based Marker for 30-Day Mortality in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Objective: We aimed to investigate whether C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) predicts the early and late mortality in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Methods: This study was retrospectively designed and includes 170 TAVR patients with a mean age of 78.4±7.

SYNTAX and Coronary Artery Calcium Score Predict Atherosclerotic Plaque Formation in the Ascending Aorta.

Background: There is no study about the relationship between the complexity of coronary artery disease (SYNTAX SCORE; SS), and coronary artery calcium (CAC) score, accompanied with aortic calcium score (ACS) levels. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the preoperative SS and CAC scores accompanying ACS in isolated CABG patients and their postoperative clinical results.

Methods: This study included 130 consecutive CABG patients.

The effect of single aortic cross-clamp technique versus multiple clamp technique on postoperative stroke in octogenarians undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Aim: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of the single aortic cross-clamp technique (SCT) (aortic cross-clamp only) versus the multiple-clamp technique (MCT) (aortic cross-clamp + side-biting clamp) on postoperative stroke in octogenarians undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: A total of 171 patients aged 80 years and older who underwent isolated CABG were retrospectively analysed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the technique used during surgery: group 1 ( = 88) received the SCT, and group 2 ( = 83) received the MCT.

A New Current to The Armamentarium: Is the CHA2DS2-Vasc-HS Score Predictive of Low Left Internal Mammary Artery (LIMA) Flow in Patients Underwent Coronary Bypass Surgery?

Introduction: Left internal mammary artery (LIMA) grafts should be used in patients undergoing CABG. No other procedure results in patency equivalent to that of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD)-LIMA bypass graft. The CHA2DS2-Vasc-HS scoring system can be used to successfully predict CAD severity in stable CAD patients.

Clinical, electrocardiographic and electrophysiological characteristics, and catheter ablation results of left upper septal premature ventricular complexes.

Background: To investigate the clinical, electrocardiographic and electrophysiological characteristics, and results of catheter ablation of left upper septal (LUS) premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) arising from the proximal left fascicular system.

Methods: Thirty-one patients who had undergone radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for idiopathic PVCs were enrolled in the study. All PVCs presented with narrow QRS complexes (<110 ms) with precordial QRS morphology of incomplete right bundle branch block type or identical to the sinus rhythm (SR) QRS morphology.

Awareness of Pleiotropic and Cardioprotective Effect of Statins in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Statins are commonly used in the secondary prevention of coronary artery disease. Studies have shown that the rate of statin use is low among patients with coronary artery disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate the reasons for poor patient compliance with statin treatment.

Analysis of geographical variations in the epidemiology and management of non-valvular atrial fibrillation: results from the RAMSES registry.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the differences in terms of demographic characteristics and preferred stroke prevention strategies for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation living in seven geographical regions of Turkey.

Methods: In total, 6273 patients were enrolled to this prospective, observational RAMSES study. The patients were divided into seven groups based on the geographical region of residence.

Real-World Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Patterns of Individuals Aged 80 and Older with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: Results from the ReAl-life Multicenter Survey Evaluating Stroke Study.

Objectives: To compare the clinical characteristics of and use of oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy in individuals aged 80 and older with atrial fibrillation (AF) with those of individuals younger than 80 with AF in clinical practice.

Design: Observational study.

Setting: The ReAl-life Multicenter Survey Evaluating Stroke prevention strategies in Turkey trial (NCT02344901), a national observational registry.

Guideline-adherent therapy for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation in different health care settings: Results from RAMSES study.

Objective: No studies have been conducted in Turkey to compare the quality of stroke prevention therapies provided in different healthcare settings in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Therefore, we aimed to evaluate possible differences between secondary (SH) and tertiary hospital (TH) settings in the effectiveness of implementing AF treatment strategies.

Methods: Baseline characteristics of 6273 patients with non-valvular AF enrolled in the RAMSES (ReAl-life Multicentre Survey Evaluating Stroke Prevention Strategies in Turkey) study were compared.

The relationship between serum thyroid hormone levels, subclinical hypothyroidism, and coronary collateral circulation in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Objective: Thyroid disease is a common endocrine disease with important effects on the cardiovascular system. As an adaptive response to myocardial ischemia, coronary collateral circulation (CCC) plays an important role in obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). The association between serum thyroid hormone levels and development of CCC was investigated in the present study.

CHA2DS2-VASc-HS score in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome patients: assessment of coronary artery disease severity and complexity and comparison to other scoring systems in the prediction of in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events.

Objective: We recently described the CHA2DS2-VASc-HS score as a novel predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD) severity in stable CAD patients. We aimed to assess the accuracy of the CHA2DS2-VASc-HS score in the determination of CAD severity and complexity and its availability in the risk stratification of in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) patients.

Methods: We prospectively analyzed the clinical and angiographic data of consecutive NSTE-ACS patients in our clinic.

Relationship of platelet indices with acute stent thrombosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Introduction: Despite major advances in stent technology and antithrombotic therapy, the development of stent thrombosis continues to be a major problem in patients who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Although a few studies have investigated the relationship between early stent thrombosis and platelet activity, the relationship between acute stent thrombosis (AST) (within the first 24 h) and platelet indices is unclear.

Aim: We investigated the relationship between AST development and platelet indices in acute coronary syndrome patients.

Is atrial fibrillation a risk factor for contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction?

Background: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is an iatrogenic problem in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Atrial fibrillation (AF) may also contribute to impaired kidney function. Several factors may contribute to the development of CIN.

Is Nebivolol Really Effective in Preventing Contrast Induced Nephropathy?

Background/aims: Contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) has multifactorial etiopatogenesis including oxidative stress and vasoconstriction. Nebivolol is an antioxidant and has vasodilatatory effect via NO release and may prevent CIN development. We have noticed that a few number of studies that have evaluated the effectiveness of nebivolol for the prevention of CIN used serum creatinine (sCr) levels for CIN detection.

Relationship between severity of pulmonary hypertension and coronary sinus diameter.

Introduction And Objective: We investigated the relationship between coronary sinus (CS) diameter and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) and normal left ventricular systolic function.

Methods: A total of 155 participants referred for transthoracic echocardiography were included in the study. The study population consisted of 100 patients with chronic PH and 55 control subjects.

Cardiac diastolic function is impaired at rest and worsens with exercise in otherwise healthy individuals with insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance (IR) is a pathophysiological condition and is associated with cardiovascular risk factors including heart failure. However, studies demonstrating myocardial abnormalities in the early phases of IR are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate myocardial function in otherwise healthy individuals with IR.

Mitral annular plane systolic excursion in the assessment of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in obese adults.

Objective: Mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) is a simple way to assess left ventricle (LV) function. MAPSE is also correlated to parameters, illustrating the close relation between systolic and diastolic function of LV. In this study, we evaluated whether MAPSE could help us in the determination the LV diastolic dysfunction (DD) in obese adults.

Increased epicardial adipose tissue thickness on transthoracic echocardiography in patients with Behçet disease.

Objectives: Owing to the fact that the potential frequency of endothelial dysfunction and early atherosclerosis might be higher in Behçet disease, characterized by acute and chronic inflammatory attacks, it may lead to impairment in flow-mediated dilatation and an increase in epicardial adipose tissue thickness. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate whether epicardial adipose tissue thickness and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation as markers of early atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction were associated with Behçet disease.

Methods: Thirty-five patients with Behçet disease and 35 healthy volunteers were included in this study.

The association of serum albumin with coronary slow flow.

Background: A number of inflammatory markers such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and fibrinogen have been shown to be associated with coronary slow flow (CSF). Our aim was to investigate the relationship between albumin, a long-acting negative acute-phase protein, and CSF.

Methods: A total of 106 patients with angiographically proven slow coronary flow and 57 control subjects with normal coronary flow were included in the study.

Effects of the coronary collateral circulation on the Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Background: The clinical utility of the Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio in the risk stratification of ventricular arrhythmic events is controversial. Therefore, we investigated the impact of CCC on these electrocardiographic indexes in the course of stable CAD.

Methods: Two hundred three consecutive patients with stable CAD who underwent coronary angiography and had documented total occlusion of one of the major coronary arteries were enrolled in this prospective cross-sectional study.