Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are major concerns in the healthcare system. An individual diagnostic approach and personalized therapy are key areas of an effective therapeutic process. The major aims of this study were: (1) to assess leading patient problems related to symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of CVDs, (2) to examine patients’ opinions about the healthcare system in Poland, and (3) to provide a proposal of practical solutions. The 27-point author’s questionnaire was distributed in the Cardiology Department of the Tertiary Care Centre between 2nd September–13th November 2021. A total of 132 patients were recruited, and 82 (62.12%; n_male = 37, 45.12%; n_female = 45, 54.88%) was finally included. The most common CVDs were arrhythmias and hypertension (both n = 43, 52.44%). 23 (28.05%) patients had an online appointment. Of the patients, 66 (80.49%) positively assessed and obtained treatment, while 11 (13.41%) patients declared they received a missed therapy. The participants identified: (1) waiting time (n = 31; 37.80%), (2) diagnostic process (n = 18; 21.95%), and (3) high price with limited availability of drugs (n = 12; 14.63%) as the areas that needed the strongest improvement. Younger patients more often negatively assessed doctor visits (30–40 yr.; p = 0.02) and hospital interventions (40–50 yr.; p = 0.008). Older patients (50–60 years old) less often negatively assessed the therapeutic process (p = 0.01). The knowledge of the factors determining patient adherence to treatment and satisfaction by Medical Professionals is crucial in providing effective treatment. Areas that require the strongest improvement are: (1) waiting time for an appointment and diagnosis, (2) limited availability and price of drugs, and (3) prolonged, complicated diagnostic process. Providing practical solutions is a crucial aspect of improving CVDs therapy.

Objective. Most current algorithms for detecting atrial fibrillation (AF) rely on heart rate variability (HRV), and only a few studies analyse the variability of photopletysmography (PPG) waveform. This study aimed to compare morphological features of the PPG curve in patients with AF to those presenting a normal sinus rhythm (NSR) and evaluate their usefulness in AF detection. Approach. 10 min PPG signals were obtained from patients with persistent/paroxysmal AF and NSR. Nine morphological parameters (1/Δ T ), Pulse Width [PW], augmentation index [AI], b/a, e/a, [b-e]/a, crest time [CT], inflection point area [IPA], Area and five HRV parameters (heart rate [HR], Shannon entropy [ShE], root mean square of the successive differences [RMSSD], number of pairs of consecutive systolic peaks [ R – R ] that differ by more than 50 ms [NN50], standard deviation of the R – R intervals [SDNN]) were calculated. Main results. Eighty subjects, including 33 with AF and 47 with NSR were recruited. In univariate analysis five morphological features (1/Δ T , p < 0.001; b/a, p < 0.001; [b-e]/a, p < 0.001; CT, p = 0.011 and Area, p < 0.001) and all HRV parameters ( p = 0.01 for HR and p < 0.001 for others) were significantly different between the study groups. In the stepwise multivariate model (Area under the curve [AUC] = 0.988 [0.974–1.000]), three morphological parameters (PW, p < 0.001; e/a, p = 0.011; (b-e)/a, p < 0.001) and three of HRV parameters (ShE, p = 0.01; NN50, p < 0.001, HR, p = 0.01) were significant. Significance. There are significant differences between AF and NSR, PPG waveform, which are useful in AF detection algorithm. Moreover adding those features to HRV-based algorithms may improve their specificity and sensitivity.

Objective: Our publication aimed to identify and present standards and tools implemented in the development of guidelines for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Methods: The results were based on complementary data extraction from records identified in the systematic review of the guidelines for retinopathy of prematurity performed in 2022. We examined the type of evidence used to develop the guidelines, the standards followed by authors in developing guidelines, and the system for classifying scientific evidence quality. The identified standards for guideline development were checked for validity and the methodology for assessing scientific evidence and presenting recommendations was described. Results: Our analysis of twenty-three retinopathy of prematurity guidelines uncovered two standards: World Health Organization Handbook and Setting Standards for the Development of Clinical Guidelines in Paediatrics and Child Health by Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH). Only two guidelines from India and Latin America followed the WHO handbook and applied the GRADE system for assessing the quality of evidence and recommendations, while the United Kingdom guidelines adhered to the RCPCH standard and SIGN Grading Hierarchy. Conclusion: Our analysis revealed the need for improvement in the process of creating guidelines for retinopathy of prematurity in most countries. We believe that by raising awareness about the tools available to support authors we are able to spread their use as a standard practice.

Background: Cardiological patients are frequently treated with anticoagulation therapy. There are benefits, but also an increased risk of bleeding, which may be life-threatening. Chaser is a mobile application, which was aimed to educate patients taking anticoagulants to improve patients’ knowledge and further adherence. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate Chaser in patients taking anticoagulant medica-tions, check the application’s usefulness, and whether it contributes to the increase of patients' knowledge of anticoagulant treatment. Methods: Consecutive 50 participants were recruited for the study and were access to the applica-tion. Inclusion criteria were being on anticoagulant therapy and being able to use a mobile phone with Internet access. All patients have had Chaser installed on their phones for at least 24 hours. The patients were given a questionnaire two times: before intervention and one day later. It was created by the study authors and tests the knowledge of patients in the field of cardiology - anticoagulation treatment, symptoms, and diseases. Results: There were 29 (58%) males and 21 (42%) females. The mean age of the patients was 66 years old. All patients suffered from at least one cardiological disease, which required anticoagu-lation. The majority (29 of 50 (62%)) participants improved their score and 18 of 50 (36%) oth-er participants had the same result. The rest had worse scores. Conclusions: The Chaser has the potential to increase patient education and self-care in the com-plex treatment of antiplatelet therapy. There is a possibility that this will contribute to the effec-tiveness and safety of the treatment. Keywords: mobile health applications mHealth cardiovascular diseases. educated patients