Background and objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) has a prognostic value for major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), including stroke, re-hospitalization, and short-term all-cause mortality at 6 months, in aortic stenosis (AS) patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Materials and Methods: A total of 120 patients who underwent TAVI due to severe AS were retrospectively included in our study. The main outcome of the study was MACEs and short-term all-cause mortality at 6 months. Results: The SII was found to be higher in TAVI patients who developed MACEs than in those who did not develop them. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the SII (HR: 1.002, 95%CI: 1.001–1.003, p < 0.01) was an independent predictor of MACEs in AS patients after TAVI. The optimal value of the SII for MACEs in AS patients following TAVI was >1.056 with 94% sensitivity and 96% specificity (AUC (the area under the curve): 0.960, p < 0.01). We noted that the AUC value of SII in predicting MACEs was significantly higher than the AUC value of the C-reactive protein (AUC: 0.960 vs. AUC: 0.714, respectively). Conclusions: This is the first study to show that high pre-procedural SII may have a predictive value for MACEs and short-term mortality in AS patients undergoing TAVI.

Inflammation plays an important role in the initiation of postoperative atrial fibrillation (PoAF) in individuals undergoing cardiac surgery, Thus, this study aimed to investigate the predictive value of the systemic immune inflammation index (SII) to develop PoAF in such patients. In total, 391 consecutive patients undergoing an isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were retrospectively analyzed. PoAF was defined according to the current guideline. The SII is determined using the following equation: neutrophil (N) × platelet (P) ÷ lymphocyte (L). The incidence of PoAF in the present study was 24% (n=97 cases). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the SII was an independent predictor of PoAF (Odds ratio: 1.002 95% confidence interval: (1.001-1.002), p807.8 with 60.8% sensitivity and 80.9% specificity [area under the curve (AUC): 0.7107]. The AUC value of SII in detecting PoAF was much greater than the AUC values of both the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) (AUC: 0.6740 and AUC: 0.6426, respectively). This study revealed that SII was an independent predictor of PoAF in patients who were operated on for isolated CABG. Additionally, SII had a better discriminative ability for PoAF compared to either NLR or PLR among these cases.

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) constitute a significant portion of hip fracture patients, and both diseases tend to present more frequently in older age. Our goal was to evaluate the long-term mortality of patients with AF who were free from heart failure undergoing hip fracture surgery. This observational, retrospective study was done in a single research and training hospital setting. Hospital electronic health record data, National Health Registry data, and National Death Registry System data for 233 consecutive patients who were above 65 years of age and were planned to undergo surgery for hip fracture were retrieved and analyzed. An experienced cardiologist evaluated the patients prior to surgery. Each member of the research cohort was categorized into one of the two groups based on their survival status (survivor and non-survivor groups). Of the 233 cases, 89 (38.2%) who were included in the investigation died during the follow-up period. The median long-term follow-up period was 34 (12-42) months. The frequency of AF was significantly higher in the non-survivor group. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, AF (HR: 2.195, 95%CI 1.365-3.415, p<0.001), advanced age, and blood urea level were determined as independent predictors for all-cause long-term mortality. AF is an independent predictor for long-term death in hip fracture cases above 65 years of age who were free from heart failure.

Introduction:The objective of the present research was to evaluate the possible association between the N-terminal pro-brain type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels and in-hospital mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia patients who did not have pre-existing heart failure (HF). Methods:A total of 137 consecutive patients without pre-existing HF and hospitalized due to COVID-19 pneumonia were enrolled into the current research. The main outcome of the research was the in-hospital death. The independent parameters linked with the in-hospital death were determined by multivariable analysis. Results: A total of 26 deaths with an in-hospital mortality rate of 18.9% was noted. Those who died were older with an increased frequency of co-morbidities such as hypertension, chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, stroke and dementia. They had also increased white blood cell (WBC) counts and had elevated glucose, creatinine, troponin I, and NT-pro-BNP levels but had decreased levels of hemoglobin. By multivariable analysis; age, NT-pro-BNP, WBC, troponin I, and creatinine levels were independently linked with the in-hospital mortality. After ROC evaluation, the ideal value of the NT-pro-BNP to predict the in-hospital mortality was found as 260 ng/L reflecting a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 93% (AUC:0.86; 95%CI:0.76-0.97). Conclusion: The current research clearly shows that the NT-proBNP levels are independently linked with the in-hospital mortality rates in subjects with COVID-19 pneumonia and without HF. Thus, we believe that this biomarker can be used as a valuable prognostic parameter in such cases.

Resumo Fundamento A hipertensão causa inflamação subendotelial e disfunção na aterosclerose resultante. A espessura média-intimal da carótida (EMIC) é um marcador útil de disfunção endotelial e aterosclerose. A razão ácido úrico/albumina (RUA) emergiu como um novo marcador para prever eventos cardiovasculares. Objetivo Nosso objetivo foi investigar a associação da RUA com a EIMC em pacientes hipertensos. Método Duzentos e dezesseis pacientes hipertensos consecutivos foram incluídos neste estudo prospectivo. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos a ultrassonografia de carótida para classificar baixos [...] Resumo Fundamento A hipertensão causa inflamação subendotelial e disfunção na aterosclerose resultante. A espessura média-intimal da carótida (EMIC) é um marcador útil de disfunção endotelial e aterosclerose. A razão ácido úrico/albumina (RUA) emergiu como um novo marcador para prever eventos cardiovasculares. Objetivo Nosso objetivo foi investigar a associação da RUA com a EIMC em pacientes hipertensos. Método Duzentos e dezesseis pacientes hipertensos consecutivos foram incluídos neste estudo prospectivo. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos a ultrassonografia de carótida para classificar baixos