Publications by authors named "S M Dragan"
Background/objectives: Predicting post-COVID-19 diabetes is crucial for enhancing patient care and public health. This study investigates the role of metabolic factors in predicting the glycemic outcomes in patients recovering from moderate to severe COVID-19.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 135 patients without pre-existing diabetes, selected from a cohort of 1980 individuals hospitalized between January 2020 and December 2022.
Background: NT-proBNP levels with a wide range at admission play both a diagnostic and a prognostic role in patients with HF. The differences regarding the clinical profiles and demography in decompensated HF patients according to NT-proBNP levels at admission are not clear.
Methods: This study aimed to analyze and compare clinical profiles and demographics in patients hospitalized for decompensated heart failure according to levels of NT-proBNP at admission.
Background: Over the years, troponins have aced the para-clinical tests for confirming the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. However, the rise in their levels is entirely time-dependent, which can cause a delay in the initiation of treatment protocols. Heart fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) can serve comparatively as a better biological marker for overcoming this flaw of troponins, as it is quickly released into the bloodstream once the myocardial injury occurs due to decreased blood supply.
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- The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant health issues and financial losses, with certain comorbidities, like diabetes and obesity, increasing the risk of severe illness and higher mortality rates.
- A study conducted on 143 non-diabetic patients who recovered from COVID-19 found that 30.7% developed long COVID-19 syndrome, and 75% of those patients were diagnosed with diabetes within a year.
- The research highlighted a notable correlation between long COVID and the development of insulin resistance, particularly among patients with a higher BMI, suggesting a major risk for altered metabolic health post-infection.
Given the widespread occurrence of insulin resistance, a key factor in metabolic syndrome and a distinct condition altogether, there is a clear need for effective, surrogate markers. The triglyceride-to-high-density lipoprotein (TG/HDL) ratio stands out as a viable option, indicative of changes in lipid metabolism associated with insulin resistance, offering a cost-effective and straightforward alternative to traditional, more complex biomarkers. This review, in line with PRISMA guidelines, assesses the TG/HDL ratio's potential as an indirect indicator of insulin resistance.
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