Predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic healthy non-diabetic postmenopausal women.

Background And Aim: Cardiovascular disease progresses after menopause. Conventional risk factors, particularly diabetes, for atherosclerosis are well-established predictors of phenotypic arterial disease. The aim of this study is to assess the predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic non-diabetic postmenopausal women.

Management and clinical outcome of myocardial infarction in Kosovo: A cross-sectional study.

Background And Aims: Myocardial infarction (MI) is cause of mortality worldwide, irrespective of its presentation as non-ST-segment elevation MI (NSTEMI) or ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI). The objective of this study was to assess national results of management and clinical outcome of acute MI patients in Kosovo.

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study, conducted at the Clinic of Cardiology of the University Clinical Center of Kosovo, in Prishtina, included all patients hospitalized with acute MI over a period of 7 years (2014-2020).

The Rationale and Design of the KOSovan Acute Coronary Syndrome (KOS-ACS) Registry.

The KOSovan Acute Coronary Syndrome (KOS-ACS) Registry is established as a prospective, continuous, nationwide, web-based registry that is operated online. The KOS-ACS registry is designed with the following objectives: (1) to obtain data on the demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of ACS patients treated in Kosovo; (2) to create a national database with information on health care in ACS patients treated in Kosovo; (3) to identify the national features of associations between ACS characteristics and clinical outcomes, including mortality, complications, the length of hospital stay, and the quality of clinical care; and (4) to propose a practical guide for improving the quality and efficiency of ACS treatment in Kosovo. The Kosovo Society of Cardiology and University of Prishtina will be responsible for the development of the KOS-ACS registry and centralized data analysis at the national level.

One-Month Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Reduces Major Bleeding Compared With Longer-Term Treatment Without Excess Stent Thrombosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) remains the gold standard in patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the clinical safety of 1-month DAPT followed by aspirin or a P2Y12 receptor inhibitor after PCI with drug-eluting stents (DES). We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, Cochrane Central Registry, and ClinicalTrials.

Smoking and Hypertriglyceridemia Predict ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Kosovo Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI), presented as ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation MI (NSTEMI), is influenced by atherosclerosis risk factors.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the patterns of presentation of patients with acute MI in Kosovo.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo, which included all patients hospitalized with acute MI over a period of 7 years.

Predictors of coronary artery calcium burden in asymptomatic patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: Long-standing diabetes mellitus is often associated with cardiovascular complications. We aimed to evaluate the presence, extent and composition of subclinical atherosclerotic plaques in coronary arteries by Computed Tomography in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (NDT2DM), and to identify the predictors.

Methods: In this study 101 consecutive patients with NDT2DM were included.

Diabetes Is the Strongest Predictor of Limited Exercise Capacity in Chronic Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF).

Background And Aim: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a known risk factor in patients with heart failure (HF), but its impact on phenotypic presentations remains unclear. This study aimed to prospectively examine the relationship between T2DM and functional exercise capacity, assessed by the 6-min walk test (6-MWT) in chronic HF.

Methods: We studied 344 chronic patients with HF (mean age 61 ± 10 years, 54% female) in whom clinical, biochemical, and anthropometric data were available and all patients underwent an echo-Doppler study and a 6-MWT on the same day.

Radial Access for Coronary Angiography Carries Fewer Complications Compared with Femoral Access: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background And Aim: In patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography (CA) and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), the benefits associated with radial access compared with the femoral access approach remain controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the short-term evidence-based clinical outcome of the two approaches.

Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.

Left Ventricular Diastolic and Systolic Functions in Patients with Hypothyroidism.

: Long standing hypothyroidism may impair myocardial relaxation, but its effect on systolic myocardial function is still controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function in patients with hypothyroidism. : This study included 81 (age 42 ± 13 years, 92% female) patients with hypothyroidism, and 22 age and gender matched controls.

Long-Term Outcomes of Patients with Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Disease Treated with Percutaneous Angioplasty versus Bypass Grafting: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background And Aim: Treatment of patients with left main coronary artery disease (LMCA) with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the long-term clinical outcomes of patients with unprotected LMCA treated randomly by PCI or CABG.

Methods: PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, CENTRAL and ClinicalTrials.

Complete revascularization for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and multivessel coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Introduction: Despite the recent findings in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) with limited sample sizes and the updates in clinical guidelines, the current available data for the complete revascularization (CR) in hemodynamically stable patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) at the time of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are still contradictory.

Aim: The aim of this meta-analysis of the existing RCTs was to assess the efficacy of the CR versus revascularization of infarct-related artery (IRA) only during primary PCI in patients with STEMI and multivessel disease (MVD).

Patients And Methods: We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and ClinicalTrials.

Quality of life questionnaire predicts poor exercise capacity only in HFpEF and not in HFrEF.

Background: The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) is the most widely used measure of quality of life (QoL) in HF patients. This prospective study aimed to assess the relationship between QoL and exercise capacity in HF patients.

Methods: The study subjects were 118 consecutive patients with chronic HF (62 ± 10 years, 57 females, in NYHA I-III).

Adiponectin correlates with body mass index and to a lesser extent with left ventricular mass in dialysis patients.

Background: Adiponectin is a serum protein produced by adipose tissue which exerts anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and anti-atherosclerotic properties, hence is considered a cardio-protective marker. With the current uncertain role of adiponectin in dialysis patients to the aim of this study was to investigate its relationship with left ventricular (LV) structure and function in these patients.

Methods: This study included 89 (age 56 ± 13 years, 43% male) patients treated with regular dialysis for > 6 months, and 55 control subjects with normal renal function.

Different determinants of exercise capacity in HFpEF compared to HFrEF.

Background: Quality of life is as important as survival in heart failure (HF) patients. Controversies exist with regards to echocardiographic determinants of exercise capacity in HF, particularly in patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The aim of this study was to prospectively examine echocardiographic parameters that correlate and predict functional exercise capacity assessed by 6 min walk test (6-MWT) in patients with HFpEF.

Relationship of Plasma Adiponectin and Waist-hip Ratio with Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: This study aimed to investigate correlation between adiponectin and waist-hip-ratio with severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). There is uncertainty about the association between circulating concentrations of adiponectin and CAD.

Methods: We enrolled eighty-two consecutive patients undergoing non-urgent coronary angiography for CAD survey.

Comparison of drug-eluting balloon versus drug-eluting stent treatment of drug-eluting stent in-stent restenosis: A meta-analysis of available evidence.

Background: In-stent restenosis (ISR) remains an important concern despite the recent advances in the drug-eluting stent (DES) technology. The introduction of drug-eluting balloons (DEB) offers a good solution to such problem.

Objectives: We performed a meta-analysis to assess the clinical efficiency and safety of DEB compared with DES in patients with DES-ISR.

Gender related predictors of limited exercise capacity in heart failure.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of gender on the prediction of limited exercise capacity in heart failure (HF) patients assessed by 6 minute walk test (6-MWT).

Methods: In 147 HF patients (mean age 61 ± 11 years, 50.3% male), a 6-MWT and a Doppler echocardiographic study were performed in the same day.

Plasma metalloproteinase-9 and restrictive filling pattern as major predictors of outcome in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Objective: Assessment of plasma matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and Doppler markers of increased left ventricular (LV) filling pressure may be added to risk stratify patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (IC). Therefore, we aimed at investigating the value of plasma MMP-9 and restrictive filling pattern (RFP) in IC patients.

Methods: Eighty-eight consecutive patients hospitalized for heart failure (LV ejection fraction ≤ 40%) due to IC were enrolled.

Independent and incremental value of severely enlarged left atrium in risk stratification of very elderly patients with chronic systolic heart failure.

The authors sought to assess the impact on survival of demographic, clinical, and echo-Doppler parameters in patients with chronic heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction divided according to age groups. This study included 734 patients (age 69±11 years) who were classified into tertiles of age: I (22-66 years), II (67-76 years), and III (77-94 years). Severely enlarged left atrial size was defined as ≥52 mm in men and ≥47 mm in women.

Predictors of exercise capacity in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Heart failure is a major and growing societal problem characterized by high mortality, frequent hospitalization, reduced quality of life and a complex therapeutic regimen. The six-minute walking test (6-MWT) may serve as a useful and reproducible test for assessing exercise capacity in heart failure patients and has been suggested as a simple, well-tolerated and inexpensive alternative to cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). The CPET and 6-MWT are the most broadly used for assessing functional limitation in patients with heart failure.

Management and comorbidities of atrial fibrillation in patients admitted in cardiology service in Kosovo-a single-center study.

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most important risk factor for ischemic stroke. Anticoagulation therapy can substantially decrease the risk of stroke in patients with AF. The aim of our study was to investigate the patient's comorbidities and management of patients with AF on the discharge.

Independent and incremental prognostic value of Doppler-derived left ventricular total isovolumic time in patients with systolic heart failure.

Background: A prolonged total isovolumic time (T-IVT) has been shown to be associated with worsening survival in patients submitted to coronary artery surgery. However, it is not known whether it has prognostic significance in patients with chronic systolic heart failure (HF).

Aim: To determine the prognostic value of T-IVT in comparison with other clinical, biochemical and echocardiographic variables in patients with chronic systolic HF.

Plasma matrix metalloproteinase-9 better predicts outcome than N-terminal protype-B natriuretic peptide in patients with systolic heart failure and a high prevalence of coronary artery disease.

Metalloproteinases have been proposed as biochemical markers of left ventricular (LV) remodeling in systolic heart failure (HF). However, their role in the prognostic stratification of these patients remains controversial. In the present study, we aimed at investigating the value of plasma metalloproteinases-3 and -9 in comparison with N-terminal protype-B natriuretic peptide in patients with systolic HF.

Left ventricular asynchrony and raised filling pressure predict limited exercise performance assessed by 6 minute walk test.

Background: Six minute walking test (6-MWT) may serve as a reproducible test for assessing exercise capacity in heart failure (HF) patients and can be clinically predicted. We aimed in this study to ascertain if global markers of ventricular asynchrony can predict 6MWT distance in a group of patients with HF and left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) <45%.

Methods And Results: This study included 77 consecutive patients (60 ± 12 years) with stable HF.

Predictors of mortality in medically treated patients with congestive heart failure of nonrheumatic etiology and reduced systolic function.

Objective: We investigated the prognostic value of various parameters on the mortality of patients with nonrheumatic chronic heart failure and left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction.

Methods: This study included 132 consecutive patients with congestive heart failure and reduced LV systolic function without rheumatic valve disease. The primary outcome was mortality.