In the initial stage, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is adaptive, but in time, it transforms to maladaptive LVH which is specific for the development of various phenotypes that cause heart failure, initially with preserved, but later with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. Pathophysiological mechanisms, which are characteristic for remodeling procedure, are numerous and extremely complex, and should be subjected to further research with the aim of making a comprehensive overview of hypertensive heart disease (HHD) and discovering new options for preventing and treating HHD. The contemporary methods, such as cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and computed tomography (CT) provide very accurate morphological and functional information on HHD. The objective of this review article is to summarize the available scientific information in terms of prevalence, pathophysiology, diagnostics, prevention, contemporary therapeutic options, as well as to present potential therapeutic solutions based on the research of pathological mechanisms which are at the core of HHD.

Background and Objectives: The relationship between osteoarthritis (OA) and osteoporosis (OP) has been analysed for over four decades. However, this relationship has remained controversial. Numerous observational and longitudinal studies have shown an inverse association between the two diseases and a protective effect of one against the other. On the other hand, some studies show that patients with OA have impaired bone strength and are more prone to fractures. The study’s main objective was to determine the bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine and hip (femoral neck) of postmenopausal women of different ages, with radiologically determined OA of the hip and knee, as well as to determine the correlation between BMD values and age in the experimental group. Materials and Methods: The retrospective cohort study included 7018 patients with osteoarthritis of peripheral joints and the spine, examined by a rheumatologist in an outpatient rheumatology clinic at the Institute for Treatment and Rehabilitation, Niška Banja from July 2019 to March 2021. A nested anamnestic study was conducted within the cohort study of patients, and it included two groups: an experimental group composed of 60 postmenopausal women, and a control group composed of the same number of women. Out of 120 patients, 24 did not meet the criteria for the continuation of the study (due to technical errors—radiographic and/or densitometry artefacts). Fifty-six postmenopausal women (aged 45–77 years) with hip and knee radiological OA were examined as an experimental group. The participants were divided into two subgroups according to age (45–60 years and over 61 years). The control group included 40 healthy postmenopausal women of the same age range, without radiological OA, with normal BMD of the hip and spine. All patients with OA met the American College of Radiology (ACR) criteria. OA of the hip and knee was determined radiologically according to Kellgren and Lawrence (K&L) classification, and patients were included in the study if a K&L grade of at least ≥ 2 was present. Hip and spine BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Results: Compared to the control group, we found statistically significantly lower BMD and T-scores of the spine in older postmenopausal women: BMD (g/cm²), p = 0.014; T-score, p = 0.007, as well as of the hip: BMD (g/cm²), p = 0.024; T-score p < 0.001. The values of BMD and T-score of the spine and hip are lower in more severe forms of OA (X-ray stage 3 and 4, according to K&L), p < 0.001. We found negative correlation between BMD and T-score and age only for the hip: BMD (g/cm²), ρ = 0.378, p = 0.005; T-score ρ = −0.349, p = 0.010. Conclusions: Older postmenopausal women with radiographic hip and knee OA had significantly lower BMD of the hip and spine as compared to the control group without OA, pointing to the need for the prevention and treatment of OA, as well as early diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of low bone mineral density.

Arterial hypertension (AH) is the most common cardiovascular disease risk factor, affecting between 30 and 50% of the adult population in developed countries. A steady increase of the prevalence of AH by about 60% is expected by year 2025. Serbian Society of Hypertension conducted a prevalence study from February to May 2012 on a sample of 3878 adult respondents. The study included 2066 women (53.3%) and 1812 men (46.7%). Average age was 48.89 ± 17.48 years. Most participants resided in urban areas (2956 people, 76.2%), whereas 922 resided in rural areas (23.8%). The prevalence of AH in Serbia is 42.7%. Hypertension is more frequently diagnosed among women (53.3%), than among men (46.7%). One thousand, four hundred and twelve respondents were previously diagnosed and treated for hypertension. The estimated awareness of the presence of AH was 42.99% (i.e. 40.00% among male and 45.41% among female participants). Out of all diagnosed cases of hypertension, 390 persons (27.7%) have well regulated blood pressure values, whereas 1022 persons (72.3%) do not have their blood pressure under control. Serbia belongs to countries with a high prevalence of AH. A poor control of AH may be explained in view of socioeconomic problems. High prevalence of AH may indicate a remarkably high cardiovascular disease mortality in Serbia.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) as progressive form of the disease are associated with cardiovascular risk factors including obesity, dyslipidaemia, hyperglycaemia and hypertension. When NAFLD is associated with cardiovascular disease, mortality of NAFLD patients is increased due to cardiovascular disease. Prevalence of NAFLD and NASH is high, but it seems that epidemic of the disease is under-recognized and under-appreciated. Linking pathophysiological mechanisms are complex and still not well understood. The main related pathophysiological mechanisms are lipid factors, insulin resistance, inflammation, proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, pro-coagulant status, hyperglycaemia and adipokines. First-line management focuses on lifestyle modifications in both diseases. Several therapeutic interventions, insulin sensitizer agents, lipid lowering drugs, antioxidants, such as vitamin E, have been proposed. Statins appear to be safe, but their use in the treatment of NAFLD and NASH is under-appreciated. Many different agents are being investigated as future drugs for the treatment of this clinical entity. The aim of the review is to examine the extent of the epidemic and the mediating mechanisms, to critically evaluate current guideline recommendations, and to consider current and future medications for this disease.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on clinical severity and long-term prognosis in patients with myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation (STEMI). We examined 507 patients with STEMI, who were admitted for primary percutaneous coronary intervention classified according to the presence of MetS using American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute definition. After applying these criteria, the patients were categorized into groups as patients with MetS and without MetS. We compared baseline characteristics, clinical findings, and outcomes between these groups. During the 48-month follow-up, we collected data about major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and mortality. The MetS group comprised 217 patients with MetS (mean age = 60.71 ± 11.52 years; 59 females), while the control group comprised 290 subjects (mean age = 57.50 ± 10.95 years; 54 females). The patients with and without MetS had similar parameters of clinical severity of STEMI but differed in severe coronary artery disease. During the follow-up period, a significantly higher percentage of myocardial infarction (6.91% vs 2.06%) and new revascularization (16.59% vs 8.97%) was recorded in the MetS group. On multivariate analysis, MetS was independently associated with MACE (HR = 1.834, 95% CI = 1.162-2.896, p = 0.009) but not with mortality (HR = 1.603, 95% CI = 0.864-2.973, p = 0.134). Among cardiovascular events that compose MACE, MetS was associated with new revascularization (HR = 2.204, 95% CI = 1.273-3.815, p=0.005). The presence of MetS in patients with STEMI is an independent risk factor for MACE, and this syndrome is strongly associated with new revascularization.