Objective: While severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) primarily affects lung tissue, it may cause direct or indirect damage to the cardiovascular system, and permanent damage may occur. Arterial stiffness is an early indicator of cardiovascular disease risk. The aim of our study was to establish the potential effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the vascular system evaluated by transthoracic echocardiographic examination. Subjects and Methods: This study compared arterial stiffness between the survivors of COVID-19 and those without a history of COVID-19 infection. The difference in aortic diameter was examined using echocardiography. Results: The study included 50 patients who survived COVID-19 in the last 3–6 months and 50 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers. In surviving COVID-19 patients, aortic diastolic diameter in cm ([3.1 ± 0.2] vs. [2.9 ± 0.1], p < 0.001), pulse pressure (PP) ([43.02 ± 14.05] vs. [35.74 ± 9.86], p = 0.004), aortic distensibility ([5.61 ± 3.57] vs. [8.31 ± 3.82], p < 0.001), aortic strain ([10.56 ± 4.91] vs. [13.88 ± 5.86], p = 0.003), PP/stroke volume index ([1.25 ± 0.47] vs. [0.98 ± 0.28], p = 0.001), and aortic stiffness index ([2.82 ± 0.47] vs. [2.46 ± 0.45], p < 0.001) were statistically significant compared to the control group. Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 may cause reduced or impaired aortic elasticity parameters linked to impaired arterial wall function in COVID-19 survivors compared with controls.

Contradictory Effect of Coronary Collateral Circulation on Regional Myocardial Perfusion That Assessed by Quantitative Myocardial Perfusion Scintigraphy

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is valuable for assessing both coronary and incidental extracardiac findings. Recognizing non-cardiac causes of chest pain and dyspnea can improve diagnostic efficiency. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of extracardiac findings in patients with normal or non-obstructive CCTA and to determine whether these findings could account for their presenting symptoms, such as chest pain or exertional dyspnea. We retrospectively analyzed 358 patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography between January 2021 and December 2024 due to chest pain or dyspnea. Patients with obstructive coronary artery disease, congenital coronary anomalies, valvular disease, or acute coronary syndrome were excluded. Two experienced radiologists reviewed all scans for extracardiac abnormalities and evaluated their potential relationship with patient symptoms. Extracardiac findings were identified in 236 patients (65.9%), with vertebral degenerative changes (39.1%) being the most frequent, followed by atelectasis (14.8%) and emphysema (10.6%). Findings potentially explaining chest pain were noted in 56% of patients with this symptom, while 64% of those with exertional dyspnea had relevant extracardiac abnormalities. Female sex and older age were significantly associated with higher prevalence of extracardiac findings (p

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a rhythm disorder observed mostly amongst adults. AF has been regarded as one of the most important medical problems because it leads to thromboembolism and paralysis risks. Although warfarin has been used in the past to cope with this health problem, new oral anticoagulant medicines have replaced it in the last few years. The new oral anticoagulants, namely, dabigatran etexilate, rivaroxaban, and apixaban, are currently being used in daily clinical practice and treatment guidelines. Since AF patients are supposed to receive long-term oral anticoagulant therapy, it is extremely important to provide them with accurate information and appropriate training regarding the treatment to decrease oncoming complications. This is a prospective study involving 168 patients who were admitted to the emergency department with AF and who were using oral anticoagulants. Findings indicate a lack of awareness in the patients regarding the effects and side effects of the drugs they take despite having been informed by the prescribing physician. We believe that informed action by patients with regard to the oral anticoagulants and their side effects will have an impact on the reduction in hospitalization observed. It will also make a substantial contribution to the quality of life of AF patients and to their use of medical services.

Increased life expectancy across the world has resulted in an increase in the proportion of the elderly population who are lost to heart diseases. Advanced age and comorbidities are believed to change the response to treatments. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of surgical and medical treatments on the mortality of stable coronary diseases. A total of 150 geriatric patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) were followed up in our cardiology clinic. Patients who decided to undergo coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery after CAG and were willing to undergo the operation were assigned to group 1, whereas those who were unwilling to undergo the operation were not eligible for percutaneous coronary intervention and were followed up medically, and were assigned to group 2. Keeping the primary goal as mortality rates, both the groups were compared using medical records for three years after the treatment. After three years, the overall mortality rate included six patients (16%) in the CABG group versus 63 patients (55%) in the medical therapy group (p < 0.001). The CABG therapy was found to be significantly and independently associated with first- and third-year mortality (risk ratio: 0.064, 95% confidence interval: 0.009-0.467, p = 0.007; risk ratio: 0.305, 95% confidence interval: 0.151-0.615, p < 0.001, respectively). Kaplan-Meier analysis for first- and third-year all-cause mortality rates led to significant results and curves between the groups. Our study revealed that compared to CABG surgery in the treatment of coronary artery disease in geriatric patients, medical treatment is associated with poor outcomes in terms of mortality in long-term follow-up.