Quality of life (QoL) is closely linked to the health status of the individual. In turn, health status strongly depends on lifestyle. Health behavior, which is defined as the actions and attitudes of a person that affect their physical and mental health, is one of many lifestyle components. The nursing community, which is exposed to a range of dangers associated with the job position and responsibilities of the nursing profession, has to contend with several negative impacts. This results in a decreased quality of life among the nursing staff and reduced effectiveness in providing care services to patients. Methods: This study was conducted using an online Google questionnaire, which was completed by 312 nurses nationwide. The questionnaire included questions about the respondents’ socio-demographic survey and included the Health Behavior Inventory (HBI) by Juczyński and the WHOQoL-BREF questionnaire. Results: The mean QoL reported by respondents was 3.65 points (SD = 0.67), meaning that QoL ranked between good and average results. The respondents’ mean rating of their own health was 3.58 points (SD = 0.79), indicating that they rated their health status between satisfactory and average. Low health-behavior prevalence was reported by 139 of the 312 survey participants (44.55%), while 111 respondents (35.58%) had average health-behavior prevalence and 62 (19.87%) had high health-behavior prevalence. Each of the QoL domains correlated significantly (p ˂ 0.05) and positively (r ˃ 0) with the total HBI score and all its subscales. Conclusions: Higher quality of life improves the level of health behavior by nursing staff. Obesity lowers the quality of life in physical, psychological, and social domains. The psychological sphere was the best-rated quality of life domain by nurses. A good material situation for nurses has a positive effect on their quality of life.

What we eat is a cornerstone of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, but health professionals may not have a clear understanding of the current evidence-based research to underpin eating habits and recommendations. This study aims to appraise existing evidence-based research on the importance of diet on CVD risk biomarkers, specifically, the effects of dietary patterns, specific foods, and constituents including vitamins/minerals and plant-derived bioactive compounds on CVD risk. Plant-based dietary patterns rich in minimally processed foods, vegetables, and fruits reduce CVD risk, while patterns rich in ultra-processed foods, meat, salt, sugar, and saturated fat increase risk. The Mediterranean, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, and vegetarian diets reduce CVD risk, while vegan diets offer no additional benefit. Low-carbohydrate diets may be beneficial, but their long-term effect remains to be confirmed. Balanced distribution of caloric intake through different meals is associated with favourable effects. Fasting (e.g. alternate-day, intermittent, time-restricted, and periodic) can reduce CVD risk but is often challenging. Moderate coffee consumption is not associated with increased risk of CVD. The consumption of one unit of alcohol/day may contribute to a reduced cardiovascular risk without presenting an unfavourable risk profile. Generally, there is no evidence that vitamin and mineral supplementation reduces CVD risk. High potassium intake is beneficial in healthy individuals, calcium or selenium supplementation shows no added benefit, and high sodium intake is detrimental. Diet is a major component of CVD prevention, and health professionals should include dietary assessment and evidence-based recommendations in their clinical practice.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) affect 60% of people over 60 years of age and are one of the main causes of death in the world. Diagnosed cardiovascular disease also triples the likelihood of Frailty syndrome (FS). FS has become increasingly relevant in cardiology and cardiac surgery and occurs in a significant number of patients with CVD, with prevalence ranging from 25% to 62%. Viewed in a multidimensional, biopsychosocial perspective, FS increases a patient’s vulnerability, making them susceptible to several adverse clinical outcomes. Frailty syndrome also is a predictor of mortality in patients with CVD regardless of age, severity of disease, multi-morbidity, and disability. Frailty syndrome potentially can be prevented in patients with CVD and its early identification is important to avoid the development of disability, dependence on others and reduced quality of life. The aim of this paper is to show the relationship between FS and specific CVDs (coronary artery disease, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, heart failure) and cardiac procedures (device implantation, cardiac surgery, and transcatheter aortic valve implantation). Furthermore, we highlight those areas that require further research to fully understand the relationship between FS and CVD and to be able to minimize or prevent its adverse effects.

Background: Nutritional status is related to the prognosis and length of hospital stay (LOS) of patients with hypertension (HT). This study aimed to assess how nutritional status and body mass index (BMI) affect LOS for patients with hypertension. Method: We performed a retrospective analysis of 586 medical records of patients who had been admitted to the Institute of Heart Diseases of the University Clinical Hospital in Wroclaw, Poland. Results: A total of 586 individuals were included in the analysis. Individuals who were at a nutritional risk represented less than 2% of the study population, but more than 60% were overweight or obese. The mean BMI was 28.4 kg/m² (SD: 5.16). LOS averaged 3.53 days (SD = 2.78). In the case of obese individuals, hospitalisation lasted for 3.4 ± 2.43 days, which was significantly longer than for patients of normal weight. For underweight patients, hospitalisation lasted for 5.14 ± 2.27 days, which was also significantly longer than for those in other BMI categories (p = 0.017). The independent predictors of shorter hospitalisations involved higher LDL concentration (parameter of regression: −0.015) and HDL concentration (parameter of regression: −0.04). Conclusions: The study revealed that with regard to the nutritional status of hypertensive patients, being either underweight or obese was associated with longer LOS. Additional factors that related to prolonged LOS were lower LDL and HDL levels and higher CRP concentrations.

Background: Multimorbidity is a common problem worldwide. It carries the risk of reduced quality of life, disability, frequent hospitalizations, and death. The present study was designed to assess the relationships that exist between multimorbidity and disability in elderly patients. Methods: The study included 100 patients and was conducted between October 2020 and January 2021. Inclusion criteria included age >65 years, presence of a minimum of two comorbidities in the subject, and consent to participate in the study. Standardized survey instruments such as Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI), Charlson Comorbidities Index (CCI), Assessment of Basic Activities of Daily Living—Katz Scale (ADL), and Assessment of Complex Activities of Daily Living—Lawton Scale (IADL) were used in the study. Results: The majority of the subjects (92) had a frailty syndrome (TFI). A small group of respondents (8%) suffered from severe comorbidities (CCI). Among the subjects surveyed, 71% maintained full function in performing simple activities of daily living (ADL), while 29% demonstrated moderate disability on the scale. Full independence in performing complex activities of daily living (IADL) was present in 33% of the respondents, and 67% were partially independent. Independence in complex activities of daily living (IADL) was significantly higher in patients with fewer comorbidities. The severity of comorbidities (CCI) had a significant effect on the decrease in the level of independence (ADL and IADL). Independence in performing complex activities (IADL) was worse among older patients. Conclusions: An increase in the number of comorbidities contributes to a decrease in the level of performance of complex activities of daily living. The severity of comorbidities significantly reduces the level of independence of the subjects in simple and complex activities of daily living. In patients with a higher level of independence in performing simple and complex activities, the co-occurrence of frailty syndrome was less severe. As the age of the subjects increases, the frequency in which they show moderate dependence on third parties in performing complex activities of daily living increases.

Background: A nutritional status is related to the prognosis and length of hospitalisation of patients with heart failure (HF). This study aims to assess the effect of nutritional status on in-hospital mortality in patients with heart failure. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study and analysis of medical records of 1056 patients admitted to the cardiology department of the University Clinical Hospital in Wroclaw (Poland). Results: A total of 1056 individuals were included in the analysis. A total of 5.5% of patients died during an in-hospital stay. It was found that in the sample group, 25% of patients who died had a BMI (body mass index) within the normal range, 6% were underweight, 47% were overweight, and 22% were obese. Our results show that non-survivors have a significantly higher nutrition risk screening (NRS) ≥3 (21% vs. 3%; p < 0.001); NYHA (New York Heart Association) grade 4 (70% vs. 24%; p < 0.001). The risk of death was lower in obese patients (HR = 0.51; p = 0.028) and those with LDL (low-density lipoprotein) levels from 116 to <190 mg/dL (HR = 0.10; p = 0.009, compared to those with LDL <55 mg/dL). The risk of death was higher in those with NRS (nutritional risk score) score ≥3 (HR = 2.31; p = 0.014), HFmrEF fraction (HR = 4.69; p < 0.001), and LDL levels > 190 mg/dL (HR = 3.20; p = 0.038). Conclusion: The malnutrition status correlates with an increased risk of death during hospitalisation. Higher TC (total cholesterol) level were related to a lower risk of death, which may indicate the “lipid paradox”. Higher BMI results were related to a lower risk of death, which may indicate the “obesity paradox”.