Association of digoxin with mortality and rehospitalization in heart failure patients treated with beta-blockers: Results from the Persian Heart Failure Patient Registry.

Background: Numerous clinical trials have reported conflicting results regarding the benefit of digoxin in treating heart failure (HF) patients. This study was conducted with the aim to demonstrate the impact of added digoxin to beta-blocker and beta-blocker alone on all-cause mortality and rehospitalization among these patients.

Methods: We investigated the data of 1998 patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of decompensated HF in the prospective Persian Heart Failure Patients Registry in Iran.

The effect of vitamin D therapy in the improvement of cardiac performance and exercise capacity in patients with heart failure: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Low vitamin D status may contribute to the pathogenesis of heart failure (HF), but therapeutic roles of vitamin D on cardiac performance are not well known. We evaluated vitamin D effects on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class in patients with HF for the first time.

Methods: This study was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Melatonin supplementation improves N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels and quality of life in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: Results from MeHR trial, a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Melatonin, the major secretion of the pineal gland, has beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system and might advantage heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) by attenuating the effects of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone and sympathetic system on the heart besides its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that oral melatonin might improve echocardiographic parameters, serum biomarkers, and a composite clinical outcome (including quality of life, hospitalization, and mortality) in patients with HFrEF.

Methods: A placebo-controlled double-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted on patients with stable HFrEF.

Effect of melatonin supplementation on endothelial function in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: A randomized, double-blinded clinical trial.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of melatonin supplementation on endothelial function in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Methods: This is an analysis of the MeHR trial, a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial with two parallel arms of 1:1. Oral 10 mg melatonin tablets or placebo was administered for 24 weeks.

Relation between Hemoconcentration Status and Readmission Plus Mortality Rate Among Iranian Individuals with Decompensated Heart Failure.

Background: Hemoconcentration (HC) has been suggested to be a useful biomarker for determination of optimum diuretic therapy in acute heart failure (HF), but role of this factor in rehospitalization and death was still controversial. In this study, we aimed to define relation between HC and readmission and mortality rate among Iranian patients with acute HF.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study done from March 2017 to March 2018 using data of a HF section of Persian Registry Of cardioVascular diseasE.

Comparison of multiple blood pressure frequency methods with optimum blood pressure measurement among Iranian individuals.

Background: Proper blood pressure (BP) measurement frequency method is less evaluated to optimize hypertension (HTN) status among different nations due to cultural patience variations. The aim of this study was to compare the first (BP), second (BP), and the mean of first and second (BP) and all the three (BP) with the second and third BP measurements in Iranian individuals.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 2264 individuals aged 18 years or more living in Isfahan city, Iran.

The association between particulate matter 2.5 and hospitalization and mortality rates of heart failure: The CAPACITY study.

Background: Considering the high concentrations of pollutants in large cities of Iran and the high prevalence of heart failure (HF) among Iranians, especially with increasing life expectancy, this study investigated the relationship between airborne contaminants with a diameter < 2.5 µm or particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.

Design and methodology of heart failure registry: Results of the Persian registry of cardiovascular disease.

Background: Heart failure (HF) resulted from ultimate pathway of many cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) or as a separate entity poses a considerable increasing prevalence and economic burden, but its registry for better management is less frequently done. In this study, we aimed to design and implement HF registry.

Methods: Persian Registry Of cardioVascular diseasE (PROVE) was initiated from March 2015 and continuously collected information of patients suffering from HF, ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), atrial fibrillation (AF), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), stroke, familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), congenital heart disease (CHD), chronic ischemic cardiovascular disease (CICD), and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) from 18 different cardiac centers.

The association of anthropometric indices and cardiac function in healthy adults.

Background: Obesity is a major risk factor for many diseases including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Recently, it has been shown that upper body obesity can predict CVDs per se. In this study, we aimed to determine the association between indicators of upper body obesity and echocardiographic indices.

Association of socioeconomic status and hypertension based on habitual smoking among Iranian population: IHHP study.

Along with tripartiteclose relationship of socioeconomic level,  smoking, and prevalence of hypertension, the present study aimed to assess the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and hypertension based on habitual smoking in Iranian population. Methods: The present study analyzed the individuals subsample consisted of 9623 subjects, out of all people resident in Isfahan province in Iran of the wave of the Isfahan Heart Health Project (IHHP) in three cities in Iran: Isfahan, Najafabad and Arak. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured in supine position using an automated blood pressure monitor.

Patients Characteristics and Preliminary Outcomes of Heart Failure Registry in A Middle-Income Country: Persian Registry of Cardiovascular Disease/Heart Failure (PROVE/HF).

Background: The Persian Registry of Cardiovascular disease/Heart Failure (PROVE/HF) aimed to studied the demographic, clinical, and diagnostic characteristics and treatment of patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF) and to follow them for short- and long-term outcomes. Its pilot phase started in 2015 in Isfahan aiming to evaluate its feasibility to be scaled up at the national level in later stages. This article describes the method and preliminary results of the first year registry.

Beneficial effects of the treatment of iron deficiency on clinical condition, left ventricular function, and quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Anemia is now considered as an important contributing factor to the deterioration of chronic heart failure. The present study aimed to assess the effects of intravenous iron therapy on clinical condition, left ventricular function and also quality of life in patients who suffered of chronic heart failure and concomitant iron deficiency.

Methods: In this clinical trial, 25 consecutive patients with concomitant chronic heart failure and iron deficiency referred to Shariati hospital  in Isfahan, Iran in 2013.

Long-term effect of massage therapy on blood pressure in prehypertensive women.

Background: Prehypertension is one of the cardiovascular disease predicators. Management of prehypertension is an appropriate objective for clinicians in a wide range of medical centers. Massage therapy is primarily nonpharmacological treatment that is used to control blood pressure (BP).

Survival rate and predictors of mortality in patients hospitalised with heart failure: a cohort study on the data of Persian registry of cardiovascular disease (PROVE).

Objectives: Heart failure (HF) has a high rate of hospitalisation and mortality. We examined its risk factors, survival rate and the predictors.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, demographic, clinical and treatment data of 1223 patients hospitalised with HF were extracted from the Persian Registry Of cardio Vascular diseasE (PROVE)/HF registry.

Persian Registry Of cardioVascular diseasE (PROVE): Design and methodology.

Background: Our aim was to create and establish a database called "Persian Registry Of cardioVascular diseasE (PROVE)" in order to be used for future research and in addition, as a tool to develop national guidelines for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In this paper, the design and methodology of the PROVE pilot study will be discussed, launched in Isfahan, Iran, in 2015-2016.

Methods: Through establishing PROVE, patients' data were collected from hospitals and outpatient clinics prospectively or retrospectively and followed up for a maximum of three years based on the type of CVDs.

Qualitative study of women's experience after therapeutic massage.

Background: Hypertension has become a major problem throughout the world, especially in developing countries like Iran. As it is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, even small reductions in the prevalence can have potentially large public health benefits. Among the complementary methods, massage provides an effective means to lower the blood pressure.

Beneficial effects of testosterone therapy on functional capacity, cardiovascular parameters, and quality of life in patients with congestive heart failure.

Background: According to the present evidences suggesting association between low testosterone level and prediction of reduced exercise capacity as well as poor clinical outcome in patients with heart failure, we sought to determine if testosterone therapy improves clinical and cardiovascular conditions as well as quality of life status in patients with stable chronic heart failure.

Methods: A total of 50 male patients who suffered from congestive heart failure were recruited in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial and randomized to receive an intramuscular (gluteal) long-acting androgen injection (1 mL of testosterone enanthate 250 mg/mL) once every four weeks for 12 weeks or receive intramuscular injections of saline (1 mL of 0.9% wt/vol NaCl) with the same protocol.

The relation between body iron store and ferritin, and coronary artery disease.

Background: Iron is essential for many physiological processes; whereas, iron overload has been known as a risk factor in progression of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of serum ferritin levels, which are known as an indicator of body iron stored in the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: In a case-control study, we evaluated 432 eligible men who underwent coronary angiography at Chamran Cardiology Hospital, Isfahan, Iran.

Combination of atorvastatin/coenzyme Q10 as adjunctive treatment in congestive heart failure: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Background: Heart failure is one of the leading causes of mortality, is a final common pathway of several cardiovascular diseases, and its treatment is a major concern in the science of cardiology. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of addition of the coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)/atorvastatin combination to standard congestive heart failure (CHF) treatment versus addition of atorvastatin alone on CHF outcomes.

Methods: This study was a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial.

The Impacts of Cardiac Rehabilitation Program on Exercise Capacity, Quality of Life, and Functional Status of Coronary Artery Disease Patients with Left Ventricular Dysfunction.

Purpose: To determine the impacts of cardiac rehabilitation on exercise capacity, quality of life (QOL), and functional status in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Design: Self-controlled clinical trial.

Methods: CAD patients with mild to moderate left ventricular dysfunction participated in an exercise-based rehabilitation program for eight consecutive weeks.

The impacts of cardiac rehabilitation program on echocardiographic parameters in coronary artery disease patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

Introduction. The accurate impact of exercise on coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with left ventricular dysfunction is still debatable. We studied the effects of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on echocardiography parameters in CAD patients with ventricular dysfunction.

Lipid profile in antipsychotic drug users: A comparative study.

Background: Schizophrenic patients who receive antipsychotic drugs may be highly prone to metabolic disorders such as weight gain, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. The objective of the present study was to compare the effect of atypical and conventional antipsychotics on lipid profile.

Methods: 128 schizophrenic patients were enrolled into the study.

Heart rate recovery in exercise test in diabetic patients with and without microalbuminuria.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) has a lot of complications such as macrovessel and microvessel disease. Another complication of DM is cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN), which have effect on automatic nervous system of heart. Failure in heart rate slowing after exercise is a presentation of this abnormality.

Association of serum potassium level with ventricular tachycardia after acute myocardial infarction.

Background: One of the causes of mortality in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is ventricular tachycardia. Abnormal serum Potassium (K) level is one of the probable causes of ventricular tachycardia in patients with AMI. This study carried out to determine the relationship between serum potassium level and frequency of ventricular tachycardia in early stages of AMI.

Calcium and vitamin D status in heart failure patients in Isfahan, Iran.

Both calcium and vitamin D play important roles in cardiac muscle contraction and performance. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the status of serum calcium, PTH and 25(OH)D(3) and their correlation with left ventricular Function and NYHA Functional class in 95 heart failure patients referred to Shahid Chamran Hospital, Isfahan, Iran, by colorimetric, immunoradiometric, and Immunochemiluminescent assays, echocardiography and interview respectively. The study was performed between Oct 2007 and Feb 2008.