Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is potentially modifiable cardiovascular risk factor often overlooked in clinical practice. For this reason, we planned to LVH-TR (Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Turkish Population) trial to determine the aetiological causes and demographic characteristics of LVH patients. Our study was a multicentre, national, observational study and included 886 patients who applied to the cardiology clinics in 22 centres between February 2020 and August 2021. In the initial evaluation, the Fabry disease (FD) and cardiac amyloidosis (CA) algorithm was followed in patients whose definitive etiologic cause(s) could not be identified. The most common aetiological causes of LVH in our study were hypertension with a rate of 56.6%, heart valve disease with 8.2%, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with 7.5%. Athlete’s heart was detected in eight patients, LV non-compaction was detected in four patients. The rate of LVH of unknown cause was 18.8%. FD was suspected in 143 patients, and CA was suspected in 16 patients. There were 43 (4.85%) patients with low α-galactosidase A enzyme levels. GLA gene mutation analysis was positive in 1.58% of all patients, and these patients were diagnosed with FD, and 15 (1.69%) patients were diagnosed with CA by endomyocardial biopsy method. In the aetiology of LVH, the rate of LVH of unknown cause was high. FD and CA should be considered primarily in this patient group. Early diagnosis of the disease by following the schemes leading to FD and CA was essential in starting treatment before the progression of the disease.

Background: We aimed to investigate the association between morning surge (MS) of blood pressure (BP) and SYNTAX score (SS) which gives information regarding the complexity and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) in hypertensive patients. Methods: We included 187 hypertensive patients (134 males, 53 females; mean age: 62.5 ± 10.9 years) who underwent elective coronary angiography. Patients with the acute coronary syndrome and a history of coronary intervention were excluded from the study. The MBPS was calculated as the difference between the average BP during the 2 hours after awakening (four BP readings) and the lowest nighttime BP. The severity of coronary lesions was evaluated based on the SS assessed by coronary angiography. Patients were classified into two groups according to SS: low SS (SS ≤ 22) and intermediate-to-high SS (>22). Results: Patients in the intermediate-to-high SS group were found to be older, have higher uric acid levels, average daytime systolic BP (SBP), nighttime SBP, morning SBP, MS of BP and have higher rates of diabetes (DM) and female gender. There was no significant difference in terms of hypertensive treatment. In multivariate analysis, MS of BP (OR: 2.151, p: 0.005) and DM (OR: 0.014, p: 0.015) were independent parameters for predicting intermediate-to-high SS. The cutoff value of MS of BP obtained by ROC curve analysis was 18,5 mmHg for prediction of intermediate–high SS (sensitivity: 76.5%, specificity: 71.2%). The area under the curve was 0.762 (p < .001). Conclusion: MS of BP significantly correlates with the severity of coronary stenosis in hypertensive patients, suggesting that it could be a potential predictive marker of CAD.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the short-term and long-term mortality results of single-stage percutaneous coronary intervention (SS-PCI) and multi-stage percutaneous coronary intervention (MS-PCI) strategies in patients diagnosed with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) with multivessel disease. Material and Methods: A total of 298 consecutive patients diagnosed with multivessel NSTEMI (71 (23.8%) patients in the SS-PCI group and 227 (76.2%) patients in the MS-PCI group) were included in this study. Data regarding mortality were obtained from the health information system of our institute and national health registry. Results: Although in-hospital mortality rates were found to be significantly higher in univariate analysis in the SS-PCI group compared to the MS-PCI group (14.1% (n=10) vs 4.0% (n=9); p=0.005), it was not independently associated with total mortality in multiple model. Among the parameters predicted mortality determinants, low hemoglobin (odds ratio (OR)=0.485, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.332-0.708; p=0.002), No-reflow occurrence (OR=6.194, 95% CI=1.310-29.300, p=0.021), not using post dilatation (OR=0.287, 95% CI=0.085-0.970, p=0.045) were independently associated with total mortality. Conclusion: There was no statistical difference in overall mortality between the two study groups in multivessel NSTEMI patients who underwent complete coronary revascularization with the SS-PCI and MS-PCI strategy, while low hemoglobin, No-reflow phenomenon, and not using post-dilatation were found as independent predictors of mortality.

Background: Despite the survival benefit of ICDs in patients with HFrEF, most recipients do not receive appropriate therapy during follow-up. Existing risk models based on echocardiographic and clinical parameters show limited predictive accuracy for arrhythmic events. This study aimed to assess whether ECG-derived markers outperform conventional measures in predicting appropriate ICD shocks. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 375 patients with HFrEF who underwent ICD implantation for primary prevention at least six months before study enrollment. Twelve-lead surface ECGs were analyzed for a QTc interval, Tp-e/QT ratio, frontal QRS-T angle, and maximum deflection index (MDI). Clinical, echocardiographic, and arrhythmic event data obtained from device interrogations were evaluated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and multivariate logistic regression were performed to identify independent predictors of appropriate ICD shocks. Results: Patients who experienced appropriate ICD shocks had significantly higher rates of a complete bundle branch block, digoxin use, QRS duration, QTc, Tp-e/QT ratio, frontal QRS-T angle, MDI, and right-ventricular pacing ratio. Conversely, beta-blocker use was significantly lower in this group. In multivariate analysis, independent predictors of appropriate shocks included the patient’s digoxin use (OR = 2.931, p = 0.003), beta-blocker use (OR = 0.275, p = 0.002), frontal QRS-T angle (OR = 1.009, p < 0.001), QTc interval (OR = 1.020, p < 0.001), and Tp-e/QT ratio (OR = 4.882, p = 0.050). The frontal QRS-T angle had a cutoff value of 105.5° for predicting appropriate ICD shocks (sensitivity: 73.6%, specificity: 85.2%, AUC = 0.758, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Electrocardiographic markers, particularly the frontal QRS-T angle, QTc interval, and Tp-e/QT ratio, demonstrated superior predictive power for appropriate ICD shocks compared to conventional echocardiographic and clinical measures. These easily obtainable, non-invasive ECG parameters may improve current risk stratification models and support more individualized ICD implantation strategies.

The HAT ₂ CH ₂ score [Hypertension (1 point), Age > 75 years (1 point), Stroke/Transient ischemic attack (2 points), Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1 point), and Heart failure (2 points)] was originally developed to predict the occurrence of new-onset atrial fibrillation. The aim of the present study was to examine whether this score could predict the development of no-reflow phenomenon (NR) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). Patients (n = 1552) with STEMI were consecutively enrolled in this single-center retrospective study. The SYNTAX score (SXscore) and HAT ₂ CH ₂ score were calculated. The presence of thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) score ≤2, without significant residual stenosis and mechanical obstruction, indicated the presence of NR. The HAT ₂ CH ₂ score was significantly higher in the NR (+) group compared with the NR (−) group [2.29 ± 1.43 vs 1.46 ± 1.24, p < .001]. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, the HAT ₂ CH ₂ score [OR = 1.585, p < .001] and SXscore [OR = 1.028, p = .017] were found to be independent predictors of NR. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the HAT ₂ CH ₂ score with a cutoff value of >2 determined NR, with 50.2% sensitivity and 79.4% specificity (AUC = .669, p < .001). In conclusion, the HAT ₂ CH ₂ score may facilitate risk stratification in estimating NR in STEMI patients undergoing pPCI.

Aim: To compare the effectiveness of thromboembolic risk scores in determining in-hospital events of COVID-19 patients. Methods: This retrospective study included a total of 410 consecutive COVID-1... Plain language summary COVID-19 continues to be a pandemic that threatens human health all over the world. The main aim of our study was to examine the relationship between risk scores routinely us... Tweetable abstract Thromboembolism has been of paramount importance in further understanding the pathophysiology of COVID-19. Learn more about the association of various thromboembolism risk scores...