Introduction: The serum apelin level in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and its relationship with ventricular tachycardia (VT) are not clearly known. This study aimed to investigate changes in serum apelin levels in patients with HFrEF and their relationship with VT. Method: This retrospective pilot study included 90 patients with 30 patients in each group: Group I: HFrEF with documented VT; Group II: HFrEF without VT; Group III: control group without HFrEF. In addition to routine parameters, apelin levels were measured. All parameters were compared between Group I–II–III. Parameters associated with VT were identified. Result: Apelin levels were found to be significantly lower in Group I–II than in Group III. Serum glucose, creatinine, and left atrial diameter were shown to be significantly higher in Group I–II than in Group III. HDL cholesterol and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) levels were significantly lower in Group I–II compared with Group III. A positive and negative correlation was found between plasma apelin levels and LVEF and age, respectively. In logistic regression analysis, apelin levels and LVEF were found to independently determine VT (OR = 0.313, 95%CI: 0.124–0.788, p = 0.014 and OR = 0.912, 95%CI: 0.877–0.968, p < 0.001). In the ROC analysis, the cut-off value for apelin was determined to be 0.80 ng/mL, and it distinguished VT status in this sample with acceptable sensitivity and specificity. Discussion: According to the results of our study, apelin levels are significantly reduced in patients with HFrEF, and reduced apelin levels are associated with the presence of VT in these patients.

Background/aims: Hypertension (HT) is a modifiable risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). There are no data on the use of the SCORE2 and SCORE2-OP risk scores used in patients with AF. In our study, we aimed to determine the effect of SCORE2 and SCORE2-OP risk scores on AF recurrence and CVD development after catheter ablation (CA) in AF patients with HT. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 266 patients (144 men, 122 women, 57.1 ± 11 years) who underwent CA with a diagnosis of paroxysmal AF. Patients were grouped as <5%-5% to <10%-≥10% (Group I-II-III, respectively) according to CVD risk in SCORE2 and SCORE2-OP. The primary endpoint was adverse CVD. The secondary endpoint was AF recurrence. Results: The frequency of CVD and AF recurrence in groups I-II-III was 0(0%)-8(8%)-14(15%) and 9(13%)-17(16%)-23(25%), respectively (p = 0.001 and p = 0.035). Age, systolic blood pressure, presence of CVD risk ≥ 10%, CHA₂DS₂-VA, BUN, and uric acid were found to be higher in those with CVD. In logistic regression analysis, the presence of CVD risk ≥ 10%, CHA₂DS₂-VA and uric acid were found to independently predict the development of CVD (OR = 3.960, 95%CI-1.098–8.508, p = 0.019, OR = 3.257, 95%CI-1.067–7.318, p = 0.015 and OR = 1.967, 95%CI-1.359–2.873, p = 0.001). Triglycerides, CVD risk of ≥10%, and left atrial end-diastolic diameter (LAd) were found to be higher in those with AF recurrence. In regression analysis, the presence of CVD risk ≥ 10% and LAd were found to independently determine the development of AF recurrence (OR = 2.448, 95%CI-0.993–1.023, p = 0.005, OR = 1.217, 95%CI-1.124–1.319). Conclusions: SCORE2 and SCORE2-OP algorithms performed before the procedure in isolated HT patients undergoing ablation for paroxysmal AF can be used to predict AF recurrence and CVD development. The SCORE2 and SCORE2-OP algorithms have been evaluated exclusively in patients with isolated hypertension; therefore, further studies are needed to determine their applicability in the broader atrial fibrillation population.