Peak systolic blood pressure during preparticipation exercise testing in 12,083 athletes: age, sex, and workload-indexed values and predictors.

Aim: Assessment of blood pressure during exercise is routine in athletes, but normal values remain equivocal. This study examines the response of systolic blood pressure (SBP) to exercise in a large cohort of athletes and establishes normative values by sex and age.

Methods: Competitive athletes free of cardiovascular disease underwent pre-participation exercise testing on a bicycle ergometer.

Comparing the Efficacy of Digital and In-Person Weight Loss Interventions for Patients with Obesity and Glycemic Disorders: Evidence from a Randomized Non-Inferiority Trial.

Digital weight loss interventions present a viable and cost-effective alternative to traditional therapy. However, further evidence is needed to establish the equal effectiveness of both approaches. This randomized controlled non-inferiority trial aimed to compare the effects of an intensive in-person weight loss intervention program with Vitadio digital therapy.

Exercise-Induced Blood Pressure Dynamics: Insights from the General Population and the Athletic Cohort.

Blood pressure (BP) dynamics during graded exercise testing provide important insights into cardiovascular health, particularly in athletes. These measurements, taken during intense physical exertion, complement and often enhance our understanding beyond traditional resting BP measurements. Historically, the challenge has been to distinguish 'normal' from 'exaggerated' BP responses in the athletic environment.

COVID-19 reduces cardiorespiratory fitness even months after a mild to moderate acute phase: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: COVID-19 survivors may experience long-term health problems, including deterioration of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), as demonstrated by several cross-sectional studies that compared the results of cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) performed only after COVID-19 with predicted values. This study aimed to analyze a change in CRF between repeated CPETs in response to suffered COVID-19.

Methods: A total of 127 healthcare workers (HCWs; mean age 55.

Preparticipation Screening of Athletes: The Prevalence of Positive Family History.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a leading cause of death among athletes, and those with a positive family history (FH) of SCD and/or cardiovascular disease (CVD) may be at increased risk. The primary objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and predictors of positive FH of SCD and CVD in athletes using four widely used preparticipation screening (PPS) systems. The secondary objective was to compare the functionality of the screening systems.

Post-COVID Syndrome and Cardiorespiratory Fitness-26-Month Experience of Single Center.

Introduction: Persistent post-COVID syndrome, also referred to as long COVID, is a pathologic entity that involves persistent physical, medical, and cognitive sequelae following COVID-19. Decreased fitness has repeatedly been reported in numerous studies dealing with post-COVID syndrome, however, it is still not fully clear which groups of patients may be more susceptible for persisting symptoms.

Aim: The aim of our study was to evaluate the number of post-COVID patients with cardiac symptoms, where these patients were evaluated by CPET and the results compared with a control group of patients.

Prevalence of Burnout in Healthcare Workers of Tertiary-Care Hospitals during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey from Two Central European Countries.

COVID-19 has led to an unprecedented strain on healthcare workers (HCWs). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of burnout in hospital employees during a prolonged pandemic-induced burden on healthcare systems. An online survey among employees of a Czech and Slovak university hospital was conducted between November 2021 and January 2022, approximately when the incidence rates peaked in both countries.

Screening for obstructive sleep apnoea in high-risk patients with mood disorders.

Objective: Our study aimed to screen for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in a clinical population of psychiatric patients with affective disorders and risk factors for OSA using screening devices in psychiatric clinical environments.

Methods: Inpatients admitted with mood disorders in an inpatient psychiatric department were selected via inclusion and exclusion criteria and assessed for the risk factors of OSA. The inclusion criteria were: a diagnosis of an affective disorder confirmed by two independent psychiatrists, snoring or apnoeic pauses witnessed during regular night check-ups by nurses, and BMI > 25 kg/m2.

[COVID-19 and post-COVID - Jekyll and Hyde of modern medicine].

COVID-19 pandemic has massive impact on the whole world, lead to the death of milions of people and required excessive restrictions with large economical, psychological and other impacts. Post-COVID syndrome is defined according to the Czech pneumological and phtizeological society as a complex of symptoms persisting for more than 12 weeks from the acute stage of COVID-19 and which is not possible to explain by other causes. Exact pathopysiological mechanisms and its frequency are still not known, and the data from the literature are not consisent.

Myocarditis as a manifestation of the disease COVID-19 and after vaccination against this disease.

Although the involvement of the heart muscle in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is relatively common (5-10%), myocarditis is a complication with a much lower incidence, depending, however, on the diagnostic methods used. The pathophysiological mechanisms have been described, but there are significant gaps in current knowledge. Myocarditis in connection with vaccination against the disease COVID-19 is a separate nosological unit.

Comparing Digital Therapeutic Intervention with an Intensive Obesity Management Program: Randomized Controlled Trial.

In this study, we evaluated whether the digital program Vitadio achieves comparable results to those of an intensive in-person lifestyle intervention in obesity management. This is a 12-month prospective, randomized controlled trial. Obese patients with insulin resistance, prediabetes or type 2 diabetes were included.

Let It Beat: How Lifestyle and Psychosocial Factors Affect the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death-A 10-Year Follow-Up Study.

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the lifestyle and occurrence of psychosocial factors in patients with a high risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and to explore their effect on the occurrence of the adequate therapy of an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD). (2) Methods: In this retro-prospective single-centre study, a group of patients aged 18-65 years old, who underwent the first ICD implantation for primary (PP) or secondary (SP) prevention between 2010-2014, was studied. The control group consisted of pair-matched (age ± 5 years, gender) respondents without a high risk of SCD.

The Key Role of Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in the Detection of Masked Hypertension and Other Phenomena in Frail Geriatric Patients.

: This study aims to determine prevalence of masked uncontrolled hypertension (MUH) in frail geriatric patients with arterial hypertension and thus show the role of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) since hypertension occurs in more than 80% of people 60+ years and cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death worldwide. Despite modern pharmacotherapy, use of combination therapy and normal office blood pressure (BP), patients' prognoses might worsen due to inadequate therapy (never-detected MUH). : 118 frail geriatric patients (84.

Sudden cardiac death - a known unknown?

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a major medical, economic and social problem. The estimated annual number of SCDs is approximately 4 million cases worldwide. Approximately 50% of SCDs are unexpected first manifestations of cardiac disease.

COVID-19 Causing Hypotension in Frail Geriatric Hypertensive Patients?

Background: The association of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with hypertension has been one of the frequently discussed topics in current studies since hypertension was identified as a risk factor for coronavirus disease. However, no studies seem to be focused on the BP (blood pressure) in patients with hypertension after COVID-19.

Report: This report presents the cases of five frail geriatric patients (avg.

High incidence of masked hypertension in patientswith obstructive sleep apnoea despite normal automatedoffice blood pressure measurement results.

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a well-known risk factor for masked hypertension (MH) and masked uncontrolled hypertension (MUCH). Automated ambulatory office blood pressure measurement (AOBP) might better correlate with the results of ambulatory blood pressure measurements (ABPM) compared to routine office blood pressure measurement (OBPM). The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic rate of MH/MUCH when using OBPM and AOBP in combination with ABPM.

A positive correlation between adipocyte fatty acid binding protein and epicardial fat thickness in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea - preliminary data.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is considered an important risk factor of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Epicardial fat (EF) thickness and adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) may be important links to accelerated atherosclerosis observed in patients with OSA. The aim was to evaluate the relationship between EF thickness and A-FABP levels in patients with OSA.

Are our nurses healthy? Cardiorespiratory fitness in a very exhausting profession.

Objectives: Low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is related to higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, increase in all-cause mortality and higher risk of different tumors. The reverse is also true; improvement in CRF is related to decrease in mortality. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a standard and also the most precise test for determination of CRF - the best possibility is the maximal test measuring different parameters including maximal oxygen consumption.

Is population's cardiorespiratory fitness really declining?

Objective: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is defined as the capacity of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems to meet the oxygen demands of the body during physical work. Poor CRF is connected with a higher risk for the development of various noninfectious diseases such as cardiovascular disease or malignancies. The standard test for the assessment of CRF is exercise testing with the measurement of maximal oxygen consumption (VO max).

Nature of Cardiac Rehabilitation Around the Globe.

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a clinically-effective but complex model of care. The purpose of this study was to characterize the nature of CR programs around the world, in relation to guideline recommendations, and compare this by World Health Organization (WHO) region.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a piloted survey was administered online to CR programs globally.

Cardiac rehabilitation availability and delivery in Europe: How does it differ by region and compare with other high-income countries?: Endorsed by the European Association of Preventive Cardiology.

Aims: The aims of this study were to establish cardiac rehabilitation availability and density, as well as the nature of programmes, and to compare these by European region (geoscheme) and with other high-income countries.

Methods: A survey was administered to cardiac rehabilitation programmes globally. Cardiac associations were engaged to facilitate programme identification.

[Epicardial fat and osteoprotegerin - does a mutual relation exist? Pilot study].

Introduction: Epicardial fat (EPI) plays important role in development of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. According to population studies EPI represents independent risk factor of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and also for neoplasms. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a glycoprotein which have role in regulation of immune and cardiovascular systems.

Comprehensive Group Therapy of Obesity and Its Impact on Selected Anthropometric and Postural Parameters.

Objective: Obesity is a multifactorial disease. This non-infectious epidemic has reached pandemic proportions in the 21 century. Posture is a dynamic process referring to an active maintenance of body movement segments against the action of external forces.

Possitive correlation between adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein and epicardial fat in patients with a family history of cardiovascular disesase.

Background: Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) is a promising link between metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis. Epicardial fat (EPI) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Objective: The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the correlation between EPI and A-FABP in asymptomatic patients with a family history of CVD.