Malnutrition is still widely prevalent in India. Various nutritional screening tools have been developed to screen for nutritional risk status but no one tool is considered the best. The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) is accepted by the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism and validated for use in hospitalized adults. Hence, it was used in this study to estimate the prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized adults and its association with socioeconomic inequality. A sample of randomly selected 358 ambulatory hospitalized patients above 18 years of age was used in the study. Data pertaining to demography, socioeconomic status, medical history, and MUST were collected using a structured questionnaire. The height and weight of the patients were measured, and their BMI was determined. The patients were classified into five socioeconomic classes and their MUST scores were determined. Statistically significant (P < 0.05) increasing trend was observed in the height, weight, and BMI of patients with increasing socioeconomic status. Diabetes mellitus (39%) followed by hypertension (30%) were the predominant comorbid conditions. According to MUST, the overall prevalence of medium and high risk of malnutrition was 11% and 24%, respectively, and the socioeconomic class that was most impacted was Class 4 (1,130-2,259 INR per capita monthly income). Socioeconomic status influences the prevalence of malnutrition, comorbid conditions, and the anthropometric measurements of admitted patients. The prevalence of nutritional risk status irrespective of sex was found to be 34.91% (24.3% in males and 10.61% in women) in the study.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is characterized by transient myocardial dysfunction triggered by both negative and positive emotional experiences, known respectively as broken heart syndrome (BHS) and happy heart syndrome (HHS). Despite the scarcity of comparative analyses between HHS and BHS in the literature, our pooled analysis, incorporating two retrospective registry analyses of 1395 TTC patients (57 HHS and 1338 BHS), reveals that while BHS is more prevalent, both conditions exhibit similar clinical presentations and outcomes. Statistical analyses, utilizing binary random effects models, indicate that diabetes mellitus is less common in HHS patients and serves as a predictor for BHS. Furthermore, there are differences in cardiac imaging between the two groups; individuals with HHS have higher odds of experiencing midventricular ballooning, whereas those with BHS are more likely to have apical ballooning. These findings highlight the similarities in clinical features and outcomes between HHS and BHS, while also illustrating distinct imaging profiles. The study emphasizes the need for future prospective studies to delve deeper into the implications of these TTC subtypes, offering valuable insights into their comparative aspects and underlying mechanisms.

Introduction: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), a fat depot between the myocardium and pericardium, produces pro-inflammatory adipokines, contributing to inflammation, insulin resistance, and endothelial dysfunction. EAT has been recognized as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including atrial fibrillation (AFib) and acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study explores the association between EAT and AIS risk, with a focus on populations with cardiovascular comorbidities. Material and Methods: This meta-analysis adhered to MOOSE and PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search of PubMed, SCOPUS, and Embase databases was conducted, targeting studies evaluating the association between EAT and AIS. Inclusion criteria encompassed RCTs, cohort, case–control, and cross-sectional studies. Quality assessment was performed using appropriate tools, and statistical analysis involved pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a binary random-effects model. Results: The search identified 711 studies, eight of which met the inclusion criteria, yielding 7412 participants. Analysis revealed that increased EAT thickness significantly correlated with higher odds of AIS (aOR: 3.60 [2.26–5.74], I² = 74.24%). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of these findings despite publication bias. Higher epicardial adipose volume was also associated with an increased AIS risk (aOR: 1.17 [1.03–1.34], I² = 49.54%). Conclusions: Increased EAT thickness and volume are associated with a higher risk of AIS in populations with cardiovascular comorbidities, including AFib. EAT’s pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic properties may contribute to stroke pathophysiology. These findings highlight the potential utility of EAT measurement in stroke risk stratification and support further research to integrate EAT assessment into clinical practice.