Depression and quality of life among heart failure patients in Georgia, Eastern Europe.

The goal of the study was to assess longitudinal changes in quality of life among patients who screened positive for depression and patients who did not enroll in an outpatient heart failure disease management program (HFDMP). Patients with an ejection fraction ≤40% and clinical signs and symptoms of heart failure were enrolled over 11 months from August 2007 to July 2008. Study participants (n=314) were divided at baseline into "depressed" (9-Question Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] ≥10) and "nondepressed" (PHQ-9 <10) groups.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor activation reduces ischaemic brain damage following stroke in Type 2 diabetic rats.

Diabetes is a strong risk factor for premature and severe stroke. The GLP-1R (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor) agonist Ex-4 (exendin-4) is a drug for the treatment of T2D (Type 2 diabetes) that may also have neuroprotective effects. The aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy of Ex-4 against stroke in diabetes by using a diabetic animal model, a drug administration paradigm and a dose that mimics a diabetic patient on Ex-4 therapy.

Feasibility of a heart failure disease management program in eastern Europe: Tbilisi, Georgia.

Background: Little is known about the importation of a heart failure disease management program (HFDMP) into low- and middle-income countries. We examined the feasibility of importing a HFDMP into the country of Georgia, located in the Caucuses.

Methods And Results: Patients with ejection fraction ≤40% were enrolled into a prospective, observational study consisting of a new HFDMP staffed by local cardiologists.

Prevalence of stroke in systolic heart failure.

Background: Heart disease is a major independent risk factor for stroke, ranking third after age and hypertension. Heart failure (HF) patient constitutes an important subgroup of patients with stroke, because of their poor outcome and high rates of mortality and stroke recurrence. We examined the prevalence of stroke in patients with heart failure from 3 different geographic regions.

Prevalence of erectile dysfunction in systolic heart failure patients in a developing country: Tbilisi, Georgia, Eastern Europe.

Introduction: In the past decade, there has been an increasing amount of published information regarding erectile dysfunction (ED) and heart failure (HF) in economically advanced, westernized populations. However, there is a paucity of data regarding ED and HF in developing countries. The country of Georgia is categorized as a lower-middle-income country (LMIC) with an emerging and developing economy.