GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) is a prospective, global registry program describing antithrombotic treatment patterns in patients with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke. Phase 2 began when dabigatran, the first non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), became available. This study sought to describe phase 2 baseline data and compare these with the pre-NOAC era collected during phase 1. During phase 2, 15,641 consenting patients were enrolled (November 2011 to December 2014); 15,092 were eligible. This pre-specified cross-sectional analysis describes eligible patients' baseline characteristics. Atrial fibrillation disease characteristics, medical outcomes, and concomitant diseases and medications were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Of the total patients, 45.5% were female; median age was 71 (interquartile range: 64, 78) years. Patients were from Europe (47.1%), North America (22.5%), Asia (20.3%), Latin America (6.0%), and the Middle East/Africa (4.0%). Most had high stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VASc [Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age ≥75 years, Diabetes mellitus, previous Stroke, Vascular disease, Age 65 to 74 years, Sex category] score ≥2; 86.1%); 13.9% had moderate risk (CHA2DS2-VASc = 1). Overall, 79.9% received oral anticoagulants, of whom 47.6% received NOAC and 32.3% vitamin K antagonists (VKA); 12.1% received antiplatelet agents; 7.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. For comparison, the proportion of phase 1 patients (of N = 1,063 all eligible) prescribed VKA was 32.8%, acetylsalicylic acid 41.7%, and no therapy 20.2%. In Europe in phase 2, treatment with NOAC was more common than VKA (52.3% and 37.8%, respectively); 6.0% of patients received antiplatelet treatment; and 3.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. In North America, 52.1%, 26.2%, and 14.0% of patients received NOAC, VKA, and antiplatelet drugs, respectively; 7.5% received no antithrombotic treatment. NOAC use was less common in Asia (27.7%), where 27.5% of patients received VKA, 25.0% antiplatelet drugs, and 19.8% no antithrombotic treatment. The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in Asia and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701).

Aim. To assess awareness of blood pressure (BP) level, adherence to therapy and achievement of target BP in residents of Russian regions as part of the 2023 hypertension (HTN) screening campaign.Material and methods. During May 2023, 4613 participants from 23 cities of Russia took part in the screening. Participation was voluntary without restrictions on sex. All patients aged over 18 years. During screening, BP and pulse were measured three times using automatic or mechanical BP monitors, and a questionnaire about behavioral risk factors, concomitant diseases and therapy was filled out. HTN was diagnosed with systolic BP ≥140 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP ≥90 mm Hg and/or taking antihypertensive therapy (AHT).Results. The analysis included data from 4585 respondents aged 18 to 95 years with an average age of 45 [28;59] years, of which 1729 were men (37,7%). The proportion of hypertensive patients was 49,6%. Among them, 62,8% took AHT and achieved target BP in 76,6% and 45,7% with the target BP criterion <140/90 mm Hg and <130/80 mm Hg, respectively. Most patients took dual AHT (37,4%), while monotherapy and triple therapy was registered in 27,5% and 23,4%, respectively. Initiation of therapy was performed with combination AHT in 43,7% of patients with HTN and 41,4% are currently using fixed-dose combination therapy. On-demand therapy was the most common reason for skipping medications and was more common in women, while men more often cited the high drug cost and a history of adverse reactions. Among patients with HTN, home BP measurement was associated with a higher prevalence of achieving target BP as follows: 1000 (60%) vs 100 (17%), p<0,001.Conclusion. The data obtained indicate, on the one hand, a continuing insufficient level of awareness about high BP and the use of antihypertensive drugs among the population, but there is a tendency to improve the effectiveness of the treatment of hypertension, including the use of fixed-dose combinations of antihypertensive drugs.

The aim of the study was to perform a comprehensive fundamental analysis of the factors of inflammation, oxidative stress, fibrosis, myocardial dysfunction, ischemia and omega-3 index associated with postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in patients with coronary artery disease. The study involved 158 patients who were admitted to the hospital to undergo CABG surgery. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1 comprised 111 patients without POAF (82% males, median age—62.0 (56.0; 66.0) years), and group 2 comprised 47 patients with POAF (84.4% males, median age—65.0 (61.0; 70.0) years). POAF occurred 5.2 (2.0; 7.0) days after CABG. In all the patients, we evaluated laboratory tests before and 3–4 days after CABG. All the patients also underwent echocardiography. According to results of multifactorial regression analysis, the odds ratio of POAF development for left atrial diameter >41 mm was 4.3 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.0–9.7, p < 0.001), interleukin (IL)-6 postoperative levels >22.07 pg/mL—3.0 (95% CI 1.4–8.2, p = 0.006), IL-8 postoperative levels >9.67 pg/mL—2.3 (95% CI 1.2–7.3, p = 0.006), superoxide dismutase postoperative levels in plasma >1100.5 U/g—3.2 (95% CI 1.4–9.2, p = 0.03), glutathione postoperative levels ≤0.194 micromole/g of hemoglobin—1.9 (95% CI 1.2–6.3, p < 0.001), glutathione peroxidase postoperative levels ≤17.36 millimole/g of hemoglobin—2.2 (95% CI 1.1–8.2, p < 0.001), glutathione reductase postoperative levels ≤2.99 millimole/g of hemoglobin—2.3 (95% CI, 1.1–5.7, p < 0.001), malondialdehyde postoperative levels >1.25 micromole/g of hemoglobin—2.0 (95% CI, 1.2–7.9, p < 0.001), NO postoperative levels in plasma >36.4 micromole/L—1.5 (95% CI, 1.1–5.9, p < 0.001) and omega-3 index ≤1.59%—2.6 (95% CI 1.5–9.1, p < 0.001). Our study showed that increased left atrial diameter, high postoperative levels of inflammatory factors, oxidative stress, fibrosis indicators and omega-3 index were associated with POAF in patients who underwent CABG.

Aim - to highlight current aspects of the concept, etiology, pathogenesis and prevention of sudden cardiac death. Discussion. Sudden cardiac death in a wide sense is known as non-violent death due to cardiac pathology, with the rapid development of circulatory arrest, which is preceded by loss of consciousness. Sudden cardiac death is often the first and only manifestation of coronary heart disease, and it occupies a vast niche in mortality from cardiovascular pathology. Despite the high prevalence, there are many controversial and unresolved issues regarding the pathogenesis of the sudden cardiac death. There are some difficulties with the precise definition of this diagnosis. Conclusion. The review considers the concept of sudden cardiac death, presents several theories of pathogenesis, risk factors, which are thoroughly analyzed and synthesized. Methods of primary and secondary prophylaxis are analyzed, and comparative characteristics of medicinal substances used for prevention of sudden cardiac death are given.

Aim. To evaluate the influence of combination of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and atorvastatin on the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary bypass surgery (CBS). Material and methods. The study included 114 patients divided into 2 groups, one comprised of 59 ones (75,6% men of mean age 62,0±7,3 yr given conventional medication), the other including 55 patients (80,0% men of mean age 59,4±6,7 yr given omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids 5 days before (2 g/d) and during 3 weeks after CBS (1 g/d)). All patients were treated with atorvastatin at the outpatient stage. IL-6,8, 10 and C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, troponin, NT-proBNP, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and myeloperoxidase were measured at admittance and on day 3.7±1.4 after surgery. Results. AF developed on day 5.9±4.9 (mean) after surgery. Patients of group 2 tended to have fewer new episodes of arrhythmia although no significant difference between the groups was documented (9,1% vs 18,6%, р=0,12). Group 2 included more smokers (74,5% vs 45,8%, р=0,002) and patients with atherosclerosis of lower limb arteries (87,3% vs 71,2%, р=0,03) but fewer those consuming nitrates (39,0% vs 18,2%, р=0,01) and Ca antagonists (45,8% vs 21,8%, р=0,006).Mean dose of atorvastatin given to patients of groups 1 and 2 was 24.7±12.5 and 25.1±10.5 mg/d respectively (р=0,2), duration of its intake 14.6±12.7 and 21.5±19.3 months (р<0,001). There. was no significant difference between leukocyte count, leukogram, IL-8, IL-10, NT-proBNP, and troponin levels before and after CBS. Surgical myocardial revascularization caused a rise in leukocyte count, shifted the leukogram toward predominance of stab and segmented cells, increased IL-8, IL-10, fibrinogen, NT-proBNP, CRP, and troponin levels in both groups. IL-8 and IL-10 levels remained normal before and after surgery. Preoperative IL-6 level in group 1 was significantly higher than in group 2 (21,7±13,0 vs 2.5±2,2 pg/ml, р<0,001). Postoperatively, the difference was absent. The CRP level before surgery was high in both groups (3122.7±2175.8 vs 3670.8±2490.0 U/g) but decreased after CBS although remained higher in group 1 (1957.6±1660.3 vs 1069.8±630.2 U/g, р<0,001). Myeloperoxidase level increased postoperatively in both groups but the difference was insignificant. Fibrinogen and CRP in the postoperative period increased more significantly in group 2 than in group 1 (4,9±1,4 vs 4,4±1,1 g/l, р=0,02 and 8,6±2,2 vs 5,4±2,3 mg/l respectively, р<0,001). Conclusion. The study revealed an insignificant decrease in the number of AF episodes in the early post-CDS period in patients treated with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and atorvastatin compared with those given the latter medication alone. Also, fibrinogen and CRP levels as markers of inflammation increased while SOD antioxidative activity decreased.

Heart failure is one of the leading causes of hospitalizations and mortality all over the world. There are literature data about the favorable influence of telemedicine support on mortality and hospitalization rate in patients with heart failure, and thus, the results of different studies are controversial. Aim: To estimate the effect of telemedicine support on hospitalization and mortality in patients with heart failure. Methods: The literature search was conducted in databases Google Scholar, MedLine, Clinical Trials, PubMed, Embase, and Crossref with the following key words: “heart failure”, “telemedicine”, “telemonitoring”, “hospitalisation (hospitalization)”, “mortality”. We included studies that were conducted during the last 10 years. In total, we analyzed 1151 records. After screening, 14 randomized control trials were included in the final analysis. Results: The conducted meta-analysis showed that telemedicine support is accompanied by a decrease in heart failure-related hospitalizations (risk ratio (RR) 0.78 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68–0.89)) and a decrease in all-cause mortality (RR 0.84 (95% CI 0.75–0.94)). We did not find a significant association between telemedicine support and all-cause hospitalizations. We did not analyze heart failure-related mortality because of insufficient data. Conclusion: Telemedicine support is accompanied by a decrease in heart failure-related hospitalizations and a decrease in all-cause mortality in patients with heart failure.