Objective: To evaluate left and right ventricular functions using tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) and myocardial performance index (MPI) methods in patients with slow coronary flow (SCF) and to determine the relationship between these parameters and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count in SCF patients. Subjects and Methods: Thirty-five patients (20 males and 15 females) with SCF who underwent coronary angiography and 35 age- and sex-matched controls (14 males and 21 females) without SCF who underwent elective coronary angiography were enrolled in the study. Left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) functions were examined using conventional echocardiography and TDE. Results: LV systolic myocardial velocity (Sm), early myocardial velocity (Em), late myocardial velocity (Am), and Em/Am ratio were similar in both the SCF and control groups; however, isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT) was higher in the SCF group compared to the control group (IRT: 99 ± 17 vs. 88 ± 20; p = 0.01). In patients with SCF, LV MPI was higher than in the control group, but this was not statistically significant (0.61 ± 0.11 vs. 0.56 ± 0.12; p = 0.07). The RV tricuspid annular velocities and MPI were similar in the SCF and control groups. Conclusion: This study showed that SCF affected LV functions echocardiographically and could cause partially reduced LV performance. In addition, SCF did not affect RV functions echocardiographically.

Red cell distribution width (RDW) was found to be a prognostic marker in heart failure patients. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between RDW and echocardiographic parameters in diastolic heart failure (DHF). Seventy‐one consecutive DHF patients (26 men) and 50 controls (21 men) were included in the study. All of the study population underwent echocardiographic evaluation, and blood samples were obtained. RDW and N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) values were significantly higher, whereas there was an increasing trend for high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein levels in DHF patients than those in controls (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.064, respectively). All of the echocardiographic parameters evaluating diastolic function were more deteriorated in the DHF group. Patients who had an RDW value greater than the cutoff point also had higher NT‐proBNP levels, an elevated ratio of mitral peak velocity of early diastolic filling to early diastolic mitral annular velocity, and increased estimated pulmonary capillary wedge pressures by tissue Doppler parameters, but lower creatinine clearance (p < 0.05 for all). According to the cutoff values calculated using receiver operating characteristic analysis, RDW > 13.6% and NT‐proBNP > 125 pg/mL have high diagnostic accuracy for predicting DHF. RDW values were increased in the DHF population. Our results suggest that the high RDW levels in patients with DHF may be related to increased neurohormonal activity, impaired renal functions, and elevated filling pressure, but not to increased inflammation.

The American Heart Association’s Predicting Risk of cardiovascular disease EVENTs (PREVENT) equations established estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) as a component of cardiovascular risk assessment. However, the anatomical substrate underlying this risk—coronary atherosclerotic burden—remains inadequately characterized across renal function spectrum. This retrospective study included 1181 patients (mean age: 60.2 ± 8.9 years, 65.7% male) undergoing elective coronary angiography. Patients divided groups using eGFR; eGFR ≥90 (n = 596), 60 to 89 (n = 497), and 30 to 59 mL/min/1.73 m ² (n = 88) were evaluated by stratification. Coronary atherosclerotic burden was determined using Gensini score. eGFR demonstrated a strong correlation with Gensini score (ρ = −0.352, P < .001). Each 10 mL/min/1.73 m ² eGFR decline conferred 40% increased odds of severe coronary atherosclerosis (odds ratio [OR] = 0.960, 95% CI: 0.951-0.970, P < .001). Patients with eGFR 30 to 59 mL/min/1.73 m ² exhibited 6-fold higher odds compared with preserved renal function (OR 6.073, 95% CI: 3.352-11.005, P < .001), independent of traditional risk factors. This study provides an anatomical validation for incorporating eGFR into cardiovascular risk assessment. Our angiographic evidence demonstrates that even mild renal dysfunction is accompanied by increased atherosclerotic burden. These findings bridge the gap between epidemiological risk prediction and pathophysiological reality, reinforcing the cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health continuum and supporting aggressive risk modification strategies in patients with declining renal function, particularly among diabetic women.

Aim: Non-dipper hypertension (NDHT) is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. Lots of different electrocardiographic parameters can be used for this purpose. Some electrocardiographic repolarization parameters and some particular parameters obtained from 24 hours holter recordings frequently were used. The aim of this study was to evaluate ventricular arrhythmia risk by using most of this electrocardiographic parameters in patients with dipper hypertension (DHT) and NDHT.Material and methods: 220 patients with hypertension were included this study. Patients were divided into two groups as DHT and NDHT according to the 24 hours ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Two groups were compared with electrocardiography and echocardiography parameters and also were compared with heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate turbulence (HRT) parameters.Results: There were no significant differences between DHT and NDHT groups with regard to demographic and laboratory datas. Also echocardiography parameters normally distributed and have no significant differences between two groups. There were no significant differences between DHT and NDHT groups with regard to left ventricular mass index (p=0.280). Although QT, QT dispersion, HRV and HRT parameters differences were not statistically significant , results were in favour of DHT in terms of ventricular arrhythmia risk. Conclusion: When hypertensive patients having no statistically significant differences in terms of left ventricular diamaters and left ventricular mass between them were divided as DHT and NDHT; there were no statistically significant differences between two groups with regard to electrocardiographic ventricular arrhythmia parameters although results were in favour of DHT.

Aim: Obesity leads to adverse changes in cardiovascular electrophysiology; however, data comparing overweight and obese young individuals are limited. In this study, ventricular repolarization, cardiac autonomic function, and 24-hour blood pressure (ABPM) were compared between two groups, and the aim was to identify factors independently associated with QTc prolongation.Material and Methods: This retrospective study included 96 young adults aged 18–30 years who underwent simultaneous ABPM and Holter electrocardiography (48 overweight: BMI 25.0–29.9 kg/m²; 48 obese: BMI 30.0–39.9 kg/m²). Heart rate variability (HRV) and metabolic indices including HOMA-IR and MetS-IR were evaluated. Regression and ROC analyses were performed to determine factors associated with QTc prolongation (≥450 ms).Results: QTc was longer in obese individuals (429.43±25.27 vs. 405.38±23.44 ms; p<0.001); Tpe and Tpe/QTc did not differ. LF/HF was higher (1.94 vs. 1.59; p<0.001), RMSSD was lower (45.41±10.24 vs. 54.94±9.89 ms; p<0.001), and nocturnal diastolic BP dipping was more impaired (12.07%±9.42 vs. 16.69%±6.85; p=0.009). The factors independently associated with QTc were BMI (β=0.33; p<0.001), CRP (β=0.28; p=0.001), diastolic BP dipping (β=−0.27; p=0.002), and HbA1c (β=0.17; p=0.049); these factors together accounted for 41.3% of the model variance (R²=0.413). HOMA-IR ≥3.36 (AUC=0.722; p=0.002) and a non-dipper diastolic pattern (AUC=0.701; p=0.004) were the strongest discriminators for QTc prolongation.Conclusion: In young obese adults, repolarization prolongation, autonomic dysfunction, and impaired nocturnal BP patterns are observed. The independent association of BMI, CRP, diastolic dipping, and HbA1c with QTc supports the potential clinical importance of QTc, HRV, and ambulatory BP assessment in young obese individuals.