Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a marker of systemic inflammation that correlates with cardiac events. This study assessed the association between NLR and the presence of chronic coronary total occlusion (CTO). The study population included 225 patients, a control group (n = 75), a coronary artery disease group (n = 75), and a CTO group (n = 75). NLR was compared in the three groups. NLR levels were significantly higher in the CTO than in the other two groups (p < 0.001). Bivariate correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between NLR and SYNTAX Score, and multivariate logistic regression analysis found that NLR was an independent predictor of CTO. ROC analysis showed that an NLR cut-off of 2.09 could distinguish between patients with and without CTO (AUC = 0.74; 95% CI, 0.68–0.81), with a specificity of 69.3% and a sensitivity of 61%. NLR may be useful as a marker of CTO.

Introduction. Plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients are markedly higher. In addition, plasma NGAL levels were increased in patients with acute and chronic heart failure as a complication of myocardial infarction. In this study, we investigated whether there is a difference between the prognostic use of plasma NGAL levels in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with preserved and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).Methods. 235 consecutive STEMI patients were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into groups according to LVEF. Plasma NGAL, troponin I, creatine kinase MB (CKMB), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. Finally, the study population examined with 34 reduced LVEF and 34 preserved LVEF consisted of a total of 68 patients (12 females; mean age, 61.5 ± 14.7). All patients were followed up prospectively for 6 months. This study group was divided into two subgroups as the patients who died (n = 14) and survived (n = 34), and plasma NGAL levels of the groups were compared.Results. The median of NGAL was 190.08 ng/ml. Age, troponin I, CKMB, CRP, glomerular filtration rate, and creatinine were higher in reduced LVEF groups. Plasma NGAL levels were also higher in reduced LVEF than in preserved LVEF, but statistically not significant (p=0.07). Plasma NGAL levels were significantly higher in death patients than in survived patients (p<0.001). In ROC curve analysis, the level to detect isolated cardiovascular mortality with a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 77% was 190 ng/mL for NGAL.Conclusion. Plasma NGAL levels can be used to predict cardiovascular mortality in STEMI patients.

Background:We investigated the relationship between peripheral neuropathy and parameters of arterial stiffness and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Material andMethods:The study included 161 pati...

Background: Sodium‐glucose co‐transporter‐2 (SGLT2) inhibitors improve cardiovascular outcomes in heart failure (HF), but their effect on sleep quality (SQ) and patient‐centered outcomes remains unclear.Objective: This study aims to evaluate the impact of SGLT2 inhibitor use on SQ, anxiety, and quality of life in patients with HF.Methods: This longitudinal observational study included 95 HF patients grouped by SGLT2 inhibitor use. A total of 79 patients (SGLT2 inhibitor group: 33; non‐SGLT2 inhibitor group: 46) completed a 6‐month follow‐up. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), anxiety with the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and quality of life with the Short Form‐36 (SF‐36). Subgroup analyses were conducted based on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and logistic regression was used to identify predictors of PSQI improvement.Results: At baseline, PSQI scores were slightly better in the SGLT2 inhibitor group (p = 0.036), while BAI and SF‐36 scores were similar. At follow‐up, the SGLT2 inhibitor group showed significant improvements in PSQI (p < 0.001) and BAI (p = 0.002), whereas no significant changes were observed in the non‐SGLT2 inhibitor group for either PSQI (p = 0.698) or BAI (p = 0.373). PSQI improvement was observed in SGLT2 users regardless of LVEF. In multivariate analysis, SGLT2 inhibitor use was an independent predictor of PSQI improvement (adjusted OR: 4.255; p = 0.010).Conclusion: SGLT2 inhibitor use was associated with improved SQ and reduced anxiety in patients with HF, suggesting symptom‐related benefits beyond cardiovascular effects.