Background: We aimed to evaluate the correlation and agreement between the Systemic Coronary Risk Estimation 2 (SCORE2) and Predicting Risk of CVD EVENTs (PREVENT) 10-year ASCVD risk scores by incorporating computed tomographic (CT) data to assess differences between the scoring systems. Methods: The PREVENT risk score was calculated for 171 patients, while the SCORE2 and SCORE2 Older Persons (OP) risk scores were calculated for 113 patients. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores were calculated, and the grading of coronary artery disease (CAD) was assessed according to these scores. Results: According to the PREVENT risk category, 79 patients (46.2%) were in the low-risk category, 32 (18.7%) were in the borderline-risk category, and 51 (29.8%) were in the intermediate-risk category. In contrast, the SCORE2 systems placed 32 patients (28.3%) in the low- to moderate-risk categories. Only 9 patients (5.3%) were classified as being at high risk by PREVENT, while SCORE2 categorized 39 patients (34.5%) as being at high risk and 42 patients (37.2%) as being at very high risk. There was a strong correlation between the scores (r = 85, p < 0.001), with a Bland–Altman plot analysis showing a bias of −3.71 points and the limits of agreement ranging from −16.06 to 8.64. The total CAC score and CAD grading were significantly different across the PREVENT risk groups (p < 0.001 for all) but were similar across the SCORE2 groups (p = 0.3 and p = 0.051, respectively). Conclusions: There is a strong correlation and agreement between the two risk scores. However, SCORE2 tends to categorize more patients as high-risk than PREVENT does. Additionally, the PREVENT risk categories are more effective than SCORE2 in determining the likelihood of CAD based on CT results.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an atypical cause of myocardial infarction, predominantly seen in women. Among various predisposing factors, genetic vasculopathies such as connective tissue diseases significantly contribute to SCAD. This report discusses a 36-year-old male diagnosed with vascular type Ehlers-Danlos syndrome following an anterior myocardial infarction and explores relevant literature.

Introduction: Iron deficiency is a prevalent comorbidity in patients with heart failure (HF) and is associated with adverse outcomes. Traditional markers such as ferritin and transferrin saturation may be misleading due to the confounding impact of systemic inflammation. This study aimed to develop and validate the Adjusted Ferritin Inflammation Index (AFII), a novel composite score integrating ferritin/C-reactive protein (CRP) ratio and albumin levels, to improve mortality risk stratification in HF patients. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 322 patients with HF and reduced or mildly reduced ejection fraction (HF with reduced ejection fraction: left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40%; HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction: left ventricular ejection fraction 41%–49%). Patients were evaluated for iron parameters between January 2017 and September 2023. Laboratory values (ferritin, CRP, and albumin) were obtained at admission for inpatients or at the first outpatient evaluation. Baseline characteristics were compared between survivors and deceased patients. Adjusted Ferritin Inflammation Index was derived using logistic regression and calculated as: AFII = (Albumin × −0.168) + (Ferritin/CRP × −0.012) + 6.958. The score was log-transformed (Base 2), and the optimal cut-off (2.1) was determined via receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. Mortality predictors were assessed using Cox regression, and survival differences were analysed with Kaplan–Meier curves. Results: During a median follow-up of 41 months, 106 patients (32.9%) died. In multivariate Cox regression, AFII ≥ 2.1 independently predicted mortality (hazard ratio: 2.155; 95% confidence interval: 1.361–3.412; P = .001), along with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, sodium, brain natriuretic peptide, and smoking. Ferritin and transferrin saturation were not associated with survival (P = .733 and P = .790, respectively). The AFII showed superior predictive performance [area under the curve (AUC): 0.713] compared with ferritin/CRP (AUC: 0.438) and albumin (AUC: 0.694). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed significantly reduced survival in patients with AFII ≥ 2.1 across the overall cohort (3-year survival: 54.9% vs 84.6%). Conclusion: Adjusted Ferritin Inflammation Index is a novel inflammation-adjusted metric that independently predicts mortality in HF with reduced ejection fraction/HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction patients and outperforms traditional iron markers. Its use may enhance risk stratification and inform future strategies for iron deficiency management in HF.

Background: Achieving target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) frequently requires combination lipid-lowering therapy. Single-pill combination (SPC) regimens may improve adherence compared with free-dose combinations (FDC) in real-world clinical practice. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 450 ASCVD patients with baseline LDL-C levels of 70–189 mg/dL who were followed in cardiology outpatient clinics between January 2023 and December 2024. Patients received atorvastatin–ezetimibe either as a single-pill combination (SPC, n = 392) or as a free-dose combination (FDC, n = 58). Primary endpoints were LDL-C reduction and treatment adherence (≥ 80% of prescribed doses). Secondary endpoints included LDL-C target attainment and adverse events. Non-parametric tests and chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: At 1 month, LDL-C levels were significantly lower in the SPC group compared with the FDC group (90.6 vs. 119 mg/dL; p = 0.005), and adherence was higher (89.8% vs. 70.7%; p < 0.001). At 4 months, LDL-C levels were comparable between groups, while continuous adherence remained significantly higher in the SPC group (86% vs. 69%; p = 0.001). A higher proportion of SPC-treated patients achieved LDL-C < 100 mg/dL at 1 month (81.9% vs. 67.2%; p = 0.009). Conclusions: In this real-world ASCVD cohort, SPC therapy with atorvastatin and ezetimibe was associated with superior adherence and comparable lipid-lowering efficacy despite lower statin doses. Fixed-dose combination strategies may represent an effective approach to optimize adherence and cardiovascular risk management.

Background: Skeletal muscle depletion and malnutrition are common in heart failure (HF) and are associated with poor outcomes. Whether imaging-derived skeletal muscle reserve and laboratory-based nutritional indices provide complementary prognostic information remains unclear. We evaluated the prognostic value of total pectoral muscle area (TPMA), Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), and Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) scores in patients hospitalized with HFmrEF/HFrEF. Methods: In this retrospective single-center study, consecutive patients hospitalized with decompensated HF between 2017 and 2025 who underwent thoracic computed tomography were included. TPMA was measured at the T4 level. Nutritional status was assessed using PNI and CONUT. Receiver operating characteristic analysis, Kaplan–Meier analysis, Spearman correlation, and Cox regression were used to evaluate long-term all-cause mortality. Results: A total of 138 patients (median age 66 years; 35.5% women) were included. During a median follow-up of 34.4 months, 87 patients (63.0%) died. Non-survivors had lower TPMA (2589 vs. 3012 mm², p = 0.002) and PNI (46.0 ± 5.5 vs. 50.2 ± 7.2, p < 0.001). TPMA (AUC 0.661, p = 0.001) and PNI (AUC 0.663, p = 0.001), but not CONUT (AUC 0.561, p = 0.226), predicted mortality. TPMA correlated modestly with PNI (ρ = 0.325, p < 0.001). Low TPMA (<3000 mm²; HR 1.911, p = 0.018), higher BNP (HR 1.024 per 100 pg/mL, p = 0.014), and lower PNI (HR 0.956, p = 0.024) independently predicted mortality. Conclusions: Reduced TPMA and lower PNI were independently associated with long-term mortality in hospitalized patients with HFmrEF/HFrEF. Their modest correlation suggests that they may capture partly distinct aspects of systemic impairment; however, the incremental prognostic value of their combined assessment requires further evaluation.