Sarcopenia is a progressive age-related skeletal muscle disease associated with adverse outcomes in those with cardiovascular disease. In this study, the prevalence of sarcopenia and its effect on clinical outcomes in heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) patients were examined. A total of 722 patients from three centres who applied to the outpatient clinic with the diagnosis of HFmrEF between 01 January 2020 and 01 June 2021 were included in the study retrospectively. Sarcopenia was diagnosed with a screening test using age, grip srength and calf circumference. At least two-year follow-up results were reviewed from the date the patients were included in the study. Of the 722 HFmrEF patients, 169 (23.4%) were sarcopenic. During the follow-up of sarcopenic patients, a higher rate of hospitalisation and two-year mortality was detected compared to the non-sarcopenic group (49.7% vs 33.3%, p < .001 and 23.7% vs 13.2%, p = .001, respectively). Additionally, atrial fibrillation (AF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic renal failure (CRF) and smoking were detected at higher rates in sarcopenic patients. In subgroup analysis, AF was found to be significantly higher in overweight/obese sarcopenia patients compared to other groups. According to Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the sarcopenia score cut-off of 73.61 predicted mortality with 65% sensitivity and 63% specificity, and the cut-off level of 71.10 predicted hospitalisation with 68% sensitivity and 69% specificity. In HFmrEF patients, sarcopenia is associated with adverse events and is an important prognostic marker.

The relationship between hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, platelet (HALP) score, and various cancers and cardiovascular diseases has been tested previously. However, the relationship between HALP score and non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) has not been adequately tested. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the relationship between HALP score and mortality in patients with NVAF. This study included 2,592 NVAF patients from 35 centers in Turkey. Patients were divided into two groups: those with HALP scores ≤ 58.96 (low HALP score group, 1,296 patients) and > 58.96 (high HALP score group, 1,296 patients). The primary outcome measured was all-cause mortality. The mean HALP score was 66 ± 33. Patients in the low HALP score group had higher 1- and 5-year all-cause mortality rates (1-year: 12.9% vs. 5.4%, p < 0.001; 5-year: 38.5% vs. 20.2%, p < 0.001). Cox regression analysis identified the HALP score as an independent predictor of mortality (1-year: HR = 0.987, 95% CI = 0.981-0.992, p < 0.001; 5-year: HR = 0.990, 95% CI = 0.987-0.993, p < 0.001). ROC analysis determined a HALP score 52.3 predicted 1-year mortality with 62.9% sensitivity and 62% specificity (AUC = 0.680); a score of 55 predicted 5-year mortality with 60.3% sensitivity and 62.2% specificity (AUC = 0.657). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed increasing mortality over time in the low HALP score group (log-rank tests, 1-year = 44.86, p < 0.001; 5-year = 108.54, p < 0.001). The HALP score is a simple, accessible measure, and our findings suggest that lower HALP scores are associated with increased 1-year and 5-year mortality in NVAF patients. This provides a reference for clinicians assessing risk in this vulnerable population.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the hemoglobin–albumin–lymphocyte–platelet (HALP) score in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis (RMS). Methods: A total of 169 patients with RMS were retrospectively analyzed over a median follow‐up period of 124 months (IQR: 96–148). The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). The predictive performance of the HALP score was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, Cox regression, and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Results: The HALP score demonstrated a modest but statistically significant ability to predict MACCE (AUC = 0.644, p = 0.037). The optimal cut‐off value was 35.65, with a sensitivity of 60.4% and specificity of 38.1%. Patients with lower HALP scores had a significantly higher incidence of MACCE (log‐rank p = 0.015). However, in multivariable analysis, the HALP score was not identified as an independent predictor ( p = 0.076). Conclusion: The HALP score may serve as a simple and cost‐effective complementary tool for risk stratification in patients with RMS. However, its prognostic value appears limited when used alone, and it should be interpreted alongside established clinical and echocardiographic parameters.

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a serious complication in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). Early identification of high-risk patients is essential to improve outcomes and reduce mortality. The Meta-Analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure (MAGGIC) risk score was originally designed to predict mortality in heart failure patients, but its role in predicting CIN has not been fully explored. In the present retrospective study, 1403 STEMI patients treated with pPCI were analyzed. Those who developed CIN had higher mortality, longer hospital stays, and more comorbidities. The MAGGIC score and 21 clinical parameters were incorporated into deep learning (DL) models, including multilayer perceptrons, TabNet, TabTransformer, and Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks (KAN) and one machine learning algorithm such as logistic regression. The best-performing model, KAN, significantly improved CIN prediction with an area under curve (AUC) of 0.92. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis revealed key predictors such as pain-to-balloon time, contrast volume, baseline creatinine, and MAGGIC score. Our findings demonstrate that combining MAGGIC risk scoring with DL substantially enhances CIN prediction in STEMI patients. This approach enables identification of at-risk individuals and supports implementation of nephroprotective strategies at an early stage. The web-based calculator may assist clinical decision making.