Background: Sodium‐glucose co‐transporter‐2 (SGLT2) inhibitors improve cardiovascular outcomes in heart failure (HF), but their effect on sleep quality (SQ) and patient‐centered outcomes remains unclear.Objective: This study aims to evaluate the impact of SGLT2 inhibitor use on SQ, anxiety, and quality of life in patients with HF.Methods: This longitudinal observational study included 95 HF patients grouped by SGLT2 inhibitor use. A total of 79 patients (SGLT2 inhibitor group: 33; non‐SGLT2 inhibitor group: 46) completed a 6‐month follow‐up. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), anxiety with the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and quality of life with the Short Form‐36 (SF‐36). Subgroup analyses were conducted based on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and logistic regression was used to identify predictors of PSQI improvement.Results: At baseline, PSQI scores were slightly better in the SGLT2 inhibitor group (p = 0.036), while BAI and SF‐36 scores were similar. At follow‐up, the SGLT2 inhibitor group showed significant improvements in PSQI (p < 0.001) and BAI (p = 0.002), whereas no significant changes were observed in the non‐SGLT2 inhibitor group for either PSQI (p = 0.698) or BAI (p = 0.373). PSQI improvement was observed in SGLT2 users regardless of LVEF. In multivariate analysis, SGLT2 inhibitor use was an independent predictor of PSQI improvement (adjusted OR: 4.255; p = 0.010).Conclusion: SGLT2 inhibitor use was associated with improved SQ and reduced anxiety in patients with HF, suggesting symptom‐related benefits beyond cardiovascular effects.

Background/objectives: Myocarditis can progress to a fulminant form, leading to severe heart failure and mortality. Inflammation and nutritional status play critical roles in disease progression. The hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score is a novel, easily accessible biomarker that reflects both systemic inflammation and nutritional status. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the HALP score in predicting fulminant myocarditis among patients diagnosed with acute myocarditis. Methods: A total of 124 patients diagnosed with acute myocarditis were retrospectively enrolled in this single-center study. Patients were categorized into non-fulminant and fulminant myocarditis groups based on diagnostic criteria. Results: The median age of the patients was 24 years, 14.5% was female. Twenty-three of these patients (18.5%) exhibited fulminant myocarditis. Troponin I, C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell (WBC), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels were significantly higher in the fulminant myocarditis group, while the HALP score was lower ( p < 0.001 for all). Multivariable regression analysis identified WBC, NT-proBNP and HALP score as independent predictors of fulminant myocarditis ( p = 0.029, p = 0.011 and p = 0.046, respectively). The optimal cut-off value of the HALP score was 4.12 for predicting fulminant myocarditis, with an area under the curve of 0.814. Beyond its diagnostic utility, a low HALP score was also significantly associated with worse clinical outcomes. Conclusion: The HALP score can independently predict the development of fulminant myocarditis in acute myocarditis patients.

Aim: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease with systemic implications, including cardiovascular effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of IBD on right ventricular (RV) function and pulmonary hemodynamics, focusing on the relationship between pulmonary pulse transit time (pPTT) and other echocardiographic markers. Material and Methods: Fifty IBD patients and 50 matched healthy controls underwent echocardiographic evaluation to assess RV function, including parameters such as RV myocardial performance index (RVMPI), RV ejection fraction (RV EF) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE). Pulmonary hemodynamics were assessed by pPTT and pulmonary arterial stiffness (PAS). Statistical analyses explored the associations between IBD and these echocardiographic parameters. Results: No differences in systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) or TAPSE were observed between the groups. PAS was increased and pPTT was shortened in IBD patients compared to controls. pPTT correlated with PAS, IBD duration, RV EF, RV fractional area change (RVFAC), TAPSE, tricuspid S', RVMPI and C-reactive protein (CRP). pPTT was an independent predictor of PAS (p < 0.001). Conclusion: IBD patients show impaired RV function and increased pulmonary stiffness. pPTT may serve as a practical marker for early detection of pulmonary vascular changes in IBD, replacing PAS for hemodynamic assessment.

Aim: Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and usually follows a chronic, indolent course. Chronic inflammation involved in MF pathogenesis may contribute to the development of cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and demographic characteristics and cardiovascular risk–related comorbidities in patients with early-stage MF.Material and Methods: This retrospective study included 62 patients diagnosed with early-stage MF (stages 1A, 1B, and 2A according to the ISCL/EORTC classification) and followed between 2020 and 2024. Clinical and demographic data were analyzed. Metabolic and laboratory parameters were evaluated in a subgroup of 25 patients with complete data and compared with an age- and sex-matched control group of 25 individuals.Results: Among the patients, 59.7% were male. The median age was 53.5 years, and the median age at diagnosis was 51 years. According to disease stage, 48.4% of patients were classified as stage 1A, 35.5% as stage 1B, and 16.1% as stage 2A. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (46.8%), diabetes mellitus (33.9%), dyslipidemia (32.3%), and coronary artery disease (25.8%).In the subgroup analysis, median fasting blood glucose levels were significantly higher in the MF group compared with controls (107 mg/dL vs. 98 mg/dL; p = 0.009). No significant differences were observed between the groups regarding body mass index or lipid parameters.Conclusion: Cardiovascular risk–related comorbidities are frequent in patients with early-stage MF. Elevated fasting blood glucose levels, despite similar diabetes prevalence, may indicate early metabolic dysregulation. Careful metabolic monitoring of this patient population may therefore be warranted.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, particularly through right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. Cancer antigen 125 (CA125), a biomarker traditionally used in ovarian cancer, has shown potential as an indicator of RV dysfunction. This study aims to compare CA125 levels between OSA patients and controls and to evaluate its association with disease severity and subclinical RV dysfunction. Methods: This cross-sectional study included sixty OSA patients, divided into severe (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] ≥ 30) and non-severe groups, and sixty age- and sex-matched controls. Cancer antigen 125 levels were assessed together with echocardiographic markers. Regression analysis identified predictors of severe OSA, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis assessed the diagnostic performance of CA125. Results: Cancer antigen 125 levels were significantly elevated in severe OSA patients compared to non-severe and control groups (median 34.3 vs. 12.9 vs. 10.3 U/mL, P < .001). Cancer antigen 125 correlated with RV fractional area change (RV-FAC) (r = −0.496, P < .001), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (r = −0.285, P = .027), and AHI (r = 0.581, P < .001). Regression analysis identified CA125 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.259, 95% con-fidence interval [CI]: 1.102-1.438, P = .001) and TAPSE (OR= 0.425, 95% CI: 0.217-0.834, P = .013) as independent predictors of severe OSA. ROC analysis showed that CA125 could effectively predict RV dysfunction (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.857) and severe OSA (AUC = 0.804). Conclusion: Elevated CA125 levels are associated with increased disease severity and subclinical RV dysfunction in OSA, suggesting its potential as a biomarker for early cardiac involvement.

Assessment of QRS duration and presence of fragmented QRS in patients with early-stage mycosis fungoides - Cardiovascular Surgery and Interventions