Background: Post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a frequent complication after cardiac surgery. It is associated with prolonged hospital stay, increased morbidity, mortality rate and economic costs. The aim of the study was to determine the association between the values of Galectin3 and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) with POAF after cardiac surgery. Methods: A prospective study enrolled patients aged 18-85 years old admitted due to elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) or CABG + aortic valve replacement. The plasma Galectin-3 and NT-proBNP levels were measured one day before surgery postoperative days 1 and 7. Results: The study included a total of 103 patients. POAF was registered in 45 patients. The mean age of patients in whom POAF occurred was 68.8 years, while other patients' mean age was 65.5 years (p=0.028). Patients with POAF did not differ from the group without POAF in the values of Galectin-3 and NT-proBNP preoperatively as well as on the first and seventh postoperative days. Changes in Galectin-3 levels on the first postoperative day had statistically significant value for predicting POAF (AUC=0.627 0.509-0.745 , p<0.05). Decrease in Galectin-3 level con centration on the first postoperative day over 17% increases the risk of developing AF. Conclusions: Preoperative values of Galectin-3 and NTproBNP are not associated with POAF development after cardiac surgery.

Background: as a relatively high number of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients develop major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), our aim was to determine the significance, and possible predictive value of QRS complex width and ST-segment elevation. Methods: our patient sample included 200 PCI-treated STEMI patients, which were divided into two groups based on the following duration of symptoms: (I) less than 6 h, and (II) 6 to 12 h. For every patient, an ECG was performed at six different time points, patients were followed for up to six years for the occurrence of MACE. Results: the mean age was 60.6 ± 11.39 years, and 142 (71%) were male. The 6–12 h group had significantly wider QRS complex, higher ST-segment elevation, lower prevalence of ST-segment resolution as well as MACE prevalence (p < 0.05). ECG parameters, QRS width, and magnitude of ST-segment elevation were proved to be independent significant predictors of MACE in all measured time points (p < 0.05). Even after controlling for biomarkers of myocardial injury, these ECG parameters remained statistically significant predictors of MACE (p < 0.05). Conclusion: our study highlights that wider QRS complex and a more pronounced ST-segment elevation are associated with longer total ischemic time and higher risk of long-term MACE.

Background: The lockdown and other measures for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention have presented an enormous burden on healthcare systems, causing reorganization in work and lowering the number of elective hospitalizations, along with a consequent reduction in hospital-acquired infections and bacteremia. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis and management of infective endocarditis (IE). Methods: The study included 111 patients admitted for IE from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2021. They were divided in two groups chronologically according to the COVID-19 pandemic: the first group consisted of patients before the pandemic (n = 85), while the second group consisted of patients during the pandemic (n = 26). Results: Before the pandemic there were 2.26 ± 1.41 cases/month with diagnosis of IE, while during the pandemic there were only 1.14 ± 1.15 cases/month (p = 0.004). IE patients during the pandemic were younger (53 [41–65] vs. 68 [52–74] years; p < 0.05). A similar number of patients underwent surgical treatment before and during COVID-19 (53% vs. 67%; p = 0.210) and 30-day mortality was comparable (28% vs. 22%; p = 0.539). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures have led to a reduction in the number of patients with IE, although this change did not influence management strategies and mortality.

Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted all aspects of life, with increasing evidence highlighting its severe extrapulmonary effects. Notably, it has been implicated in the development of peri-arrest arrhythmias in patients with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, underscoring the need for further investigation. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID- 19 pandemic on the incidence of peri-arrest arrhythmias among hospitalized patients at the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases of Vojvodina, all of whom had underlying cardiac pathology. Material and Methods. A retrospective observational study was conducted on patients hospitalized at the Institute from March 2018 to January 2022 for cardiovascular diseases. Risk factors, including hyperlipidemia, alcohol consumption, smoking, diabetes, and hypertension, were analyzed. Results. The findings revealed a significant increase in peri-arrest arrhythmias, particularly tachyarrhythmias, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hypertension (80.6%) and hyperlipidemia (54.6%) were highly prevalent among the study population. In COVID-19-positive patients, tachyarrhythmias occurred were more frequent (31%) compared to the pre-pandemic period (11.4%), whereas the incidence of bradyarrhythmias remained unchanged. A strong association between arrhythmias and acute myocardial infarction was also observed in COVID-19-positive patients. Conclusion. The study confirms that the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a heightened incidence of peri-arrest arrhythmias in hospitalized cardiac patients.

Background: As a relatively high number of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients develop major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), our aim was to determine the significance, and possible predictive value of QRS complex width and ST-segment elevation. Methods: Our patient sample included 200 PCI-treated STEMI patients, which were divided into two groups, based on the duration of symptoms: (I) less than 6 hours, and (II) 6-12 hours. For every patient, ECG was performed at 6 different time points. Long-term follow-up lasted 6 years from the STEMI onset. Statistical analysis was performed. Results: The mean age was 60.6±11.39 years, and 142 were male. Wider QRS complex, more pronounced ST-segment elevation, and more frequently absent ST-segment resolution were more common in the second group. Presentation of MACE was more frequent in this group. An increase of pre-PCI QRS complex width by 1 msec increases the risk of 6-year MACE by 3%, and an increase in pre-PCI ST-segment elevation by 1mm increases the risk of 6-year MACE by 3.26 times. Conclusion: To the best of our understanding, this study represents a pioneer research that utilized these ECG elements in the context of predicting a 6-year MACE. A wider QRS complex and a more pronounced ST-segment elevation were associated with longer total ischemic time. More research is needed to confirm these findings.

Introduction: Heart failure is characterized by a high prevalence both in our country and in the world. Patients with heart failure have an impaired quality of life, are prone to rehospitalization and have a higher mortality rate. Adequate pharmacotherapy should be set in a proper manner and in accordance with the latest knowledge. Aim: The aim of the research was to examine the role of beta blockers in patients with HF (ischemic and non-ischemic etiology) as one of the key drugs in their treatment. Material and Methods: The criteria for the inclusion of patients in the study was an established ejection fraction lower than 30%, they were divided depending into two equal groups, one with ischemic and other with non-ischemic heart failure. Thirty patients participated in the study. Data on beta blocker therapy and treatment outcomes were observed and compared with the recommendations given by the guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology. Results: The study included more men than women. The largest number of patients were treated with bisoprolol, followed by metoprolol and carvedilol. Regardless of the etiology of heart failure the majority of the patients were treated with a dose of 2.5 miligrams of bisoprolol. Atrial fibrillation was present in slightly less than a third of patients, disregarding the etiology of HF. In the three-year follow-up of our patients, 46.4% died from nonischemic cardiomyopathy, or 13.2% from ischemic cardiomyopathy. Conclusion: Most patients were on appropriate beta-blocker therapy according to guidelines. Atrial fibrillation has been confirmed as a poor prognostic parameter. A three-year follow-up of our patients showed a high percentage of deaths, but no association of betablocker dose with poor outcomes.