Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension after the Removal of COVID-19 Pandemic Restrictions.

There was increased risk of mental disturbances during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients with chronic diseases, including pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), were particularly vulnerable. Our previous study showed high levels of fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19S), anxiety (HADS-A), and depression (HADS-D) in the second year of the pandemic among PAH/CTEPH patients.

Greater distance between ablation lines reduces the arrhythmia recurrence rate after pulmonary vein isolation.

Introduction: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a recommended strategy for rhythm control in atrial fibrillation (AF), but its success rate remains unsatisfactory. Continuous research is being conducted to explore new technologies and modifications to the existing ablation workflow in order to reduce the arrhythmia recurrence rate.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the influence of the distance between ablation lines (DBL) on AF recurrence rate in patients undergoing their first PVI; and thus to optimize the procedure outcomes.

Clinical outcomes and predictors of long-term mortality, hemorrhagic and thromboembolic events in atrial fibrillation patients at different stages of chronic kidney disease: The CRAFT trial.

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) coexisting with atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of hemorrhage and ischemia. The study aimed to determine the relationship between different CKD stages and clinical outcomes of patients suffering from both CKD and AF and to determine the predictors of outcome. Methods The data was derived from multicenter CRAFT trial (NCT02987062).

Antiarrhythmic drugs for pharmacological cardioversion of atrial fibrillation and sex differences: Insights from the CANT II Study.

Background: Data on sex differences in terms of action of antiarrhythmic agents (AADs) are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical profile of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), and efficacy and safety of AADs used for pharmacological cardioversion (PCV) of AF.

Methods: This research was a sub-analysis of the retrospective multicenter Cardioversion with ANTazoline II (CANT) registry, which comprised 1365 patients with short-duration AF referred for urgent PCV with the use of AAD.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease.

The developments in HIV treatments have increased the life expectancy of people living with HIV (PLWH), a situation that makes cardiovascular disease (CVD) in that population as relevant as ever. PLWH are at increased risk of CVD, and our understanding of the underlying mechanisms is continually increasing. HIV infection is associated with elevated levels of multiple proinflammatory molecules, including IL-6, IL-1β, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, TNF-α, TGF-β, osteopontin, sCD14, hs-CRP, and D-dimer.

Impact of AfterAMI Mobile App on Quality of Life, Depression, Stress and Anxiety in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease: Open Label, Randomized Trial.

mHealth solutions optimize cardiovascular risk factor control in coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of mobile app AfterAMI on quality of life in patients after myocardial infarction. 100 participants were randomized (1:1 ratio) into groups: (1) with a rehabilitation program and access to afterAMI or (2) standard rehabilitation alone (control group, CG).

Mobile application and digital system for patients after myocardial infarction: early results from a randomized trial.

Introduction: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a complex program aimed at better control of cardiovascular risk factors. It can be supported by mobile applications. Despite promising results from previous studies on telemedicine tools, there is a paucity of evidence when it comes to prospective randomized trials.

Safety and effectiveness of very-high-power, short-duration ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation: Preliminary results.

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is at the forefront of rhythm control strategies in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). A very-high-power, short-duration (vHPSD) catheter, QDot MicroTM (Biosense Webster) was designed to improve the effectiveness of AF ablation within a shorter procedure time. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness and safety of PVI ablation between this vHPSD ablation mode and conventional ablation-index-guided ablation (ThermoCool Smarttouch SF catheter).

Heart failure in patients with atrial fibrillation: Insights from Polish part of the EORP-AF general long-term registry.

Aims: This study aimed to determine the impact of heart failure (HF) on clinical outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods And Results: We analysed data from Polish participants of the EURObservational Research Programme-AF General Long-Term Registry. The primary endpoint was all-cause death, and the secondary endpoints included hospital readmissions, cardiovascular (CV) interventions, thromboembolic and haemorrhagic events, rhythm control interventions, and other CV or non-CV diseases development during one-year follow up.

Chronotropic incompetence in end-stage liver disease.

Background: Cirrhosis causes alterations in the cardiovascular and autonomic nervous systems and leads to cirrhotic cardiomyopathy (CCM). CCM is defined as cardiac dysfunction characterized by an impaired systolic responsiveness to stress or exercise, and/or impaired diastolic function, as well as electrophysiological abnormalities, including chronotropic incompetence (CI), in the absence of other known cardiac disease. CI is a common feature of autonomic neuropathy in cirrhosis.

Mobile app and digital system for patients after myocardial infarction (afterAMI): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Treatment of acute myocardial infarction has been the subject of studies over the past years. However, the initial months after myocardial infarction are crucial from the perspective of the patient's prognosis. It is extremely important to take care of all cardiovascular risk factors and undergo a full rehabilitation program.

Pharmacological Cardioversion in Patients with Recent-Onset Atrial Fibrillation and Chronic Kidney Disease Subanalysis of the CANT II Study.

Pharmacological cardioversion (PCV) is commonly a primary option for termination of recent-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in emergency departments (ED). This is a subanalysis of the CANT II study, evaluating the effectiveness and safety of antazoline in patients (n = 777) at three stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD): Group I > 60 mL/min (n = 531), Group II 45−59 mL/min (n = 149), and Group III < 45 mL/min (n = 97). Patients in Group III were older and with a higher prevalence of co-morbidities; however, we did not find statistically significant differences in the overall effectiveness of PCV in comparison with the other groups.

Efficacy and safety of antazoline for cardioversion of atrial fibrillation: propensity score matching analysis of a multicenter registry (CANT II Study).

Introduction: Due to safety concerns about available antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs), reliable agents for termination of atrial fibrillation (AF) are requisite.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of antazoline, a first‑generation antihistamine, for cardioversion of recent‑onset AF in the setting of an emergency department.

Patients And Methods: This multicenter, retrospective registry covered 1365 patients (median [interquartile range] age, 69.

Predictors of mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy in a long-term follow-up.

Background: Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) is an extremely rare muscular dystrophy due to either emerinopathy (EMD) or laminopathy (LMNA). The main risk for patients is that of cardiovascular complications.

Aims: This study aimed to identify predictors of adverse clinical events in patients with EDMD in a long-term follow-up observation.

Stress Echocardiography Protocol for Deciding Type of Surgery in Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation: Predictors of Mitral Regurgitation Recurrence following CABG Alone.

Purpose: Although coronary artery bypass grafting alone (CABGa), or, with mitral annuloplasty (CABGmp), is considered the best therapeutic strategy for patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR), some recurrences are still reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of the mitral deformation indices (MDI) as a predictor of recurrence of mitral regurgitation in a 12-month follow-up after CABG alone.

Methods: A total of 145 patients after myocardial infarction with significant IMR, eligible for CABG, were prospectively enrolled in the study.

Radiation Safety and Electrophysiologists: Radiation Protection Status - Go for Zero Fluoroscopy European Heart Rhythm Association Registry.

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze electrophysiologists' radiation-protective devices for occupational exposure across European countries.

Methods: Data reported herein were gathered from the international, multicenter prospective Go for Zero Fluoroscopy registry performed in years 2018-2019. The registry encompassed 25 European electrophysiological centers from 14 countries and up to 5 operators from each center.

Resistin is Associated with Inflammation and Renal Function, but not with Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetes.

The aim of the study was to investigate the association of adipokines (resistin, leptin and adiponectin) with obesity, insulin resistance (IR) and inflammation in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A total of 284 patients with T2DM were included. Concentrations of resistin, leptin, adiponectin, and inflammatory markers [high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6)] were measured and homeostatic model assessment for IR (HOMA-IR) index was calculated.

Kardia Mobile and ISTEL HR applicability in clinical practice: a comparison of Kardia Mobile, ISTEL HR, and standard 12-lead electrocardiogram records in 98 consecutive patients of a tertiary cardiovascular care centre.

Aims: Mobile, portable ECG-recorders allow the assessment of heart rhythm in out-of-hospital conditions and may prove useful for monitoring patients with cardiovascular diseases. However, the effectiveness of these portable devices has not been tested in everyday practice.

Methods And Results: A group of 98 consecutive cardiology patients [62 males (63%), mean age 69 ± 12.