Objectives: The aim of this study was to define the level of kinesiophobia in cardiac patients, to determine whether there was a positive change in kinesiophobia after an exercise based cardiac rehabilitation (CR), and to define the associated variables with the change in kinesiophobia. Patients and methods: Between September 2017 and December 2018, a total of 98 patients (63 males, 35 females; mean age: 58±10.4 years; range, 36 to 78 years) diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD) were included in the study. The Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia Heart (TSK-SV Heart) was used to measure kinesiophobia. The short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was applied to measure physical activity level. The Short Form 36 (SF-36) was used to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL). After CR, kinesiophobia was reevaluated. Results: A high level of kinesiophobia was present in 74.5% of the patients. The mean TSK-SV heart score was 41.4±6.2. After CR, 34.6% of the patients had a high level of kinesiophobia (p<0.001). The patients with a high level of kinesiophobia were physically more inactive than those with a low level of kinesiophobia (p=0.001) and HRQoL scores were significantly lower (p<0.05). Conclusion: Kinesiophobia is quite common in patients with CAD. Aerobic exercise capacity and physical activity levels are lower in patients with a high level of kinesiophobia, compared to those with a low level of kinesiophobia. After an exercise-based CR program, kinesiophobia significantly reduces.

Lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory mucocutaneous disease. Recent studies have suggested that it is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular comorbidities. The purpose of this study was to assess and compare arterial stiffness and cardiovascular hemodynamics in patients with lichen planus and a healthy control group. Fifty-five patients with lichen planus and 42 healthy controls were enrolled. All patients underwent echocardiographic examination, and arterial stiffness was measured using applanation tonometry. No statistically significant difference was determined between the patient and control groups in terms of arterial stiffness, but stiffness was markedly higher in patients with erosive lichen planus compared to the control group and other patients (p=0.006, and p=0.023, respectively). Moderate positive correlation was determined between duration of disease and arterial stiffness. Impairment of systolic and diastolic functions was also determined in patients with lichen planus compared to the control group (p<0.001, and p=0.005, respectively). Relatively low number of patients. The positive correlation observed between duration of disease and arterial stiffness in patients with lichen planus suggests that these patients should be followed-up in terms of cardiovascular risk in the presence of resistant and long-term disease, particularly in case of erosive lichen planus.

Background The morbidity and mortality rates related to hypertension (HT) are still high despite the developments in this area. Nondipper hypertension (NDHT) is related to worse clinical outcomes. But the dipping pattern of HT is not still used for treatment targets. In this study, we investigated the effect of dipping patterns on coronary artery disease (CAD) complexity evaluated by the SYNTAX score (SS). Methodology Patients with stable CAD and HT were included in the study. All patients were monitored with 24-hour ambulatory monitoring, and dipping patterns were evaluated. Coronary artery complexity was determined by SS for all patients and compared along with different dipping patterns. Results A total of 331 patients with HT and stable CAD were evaluated in the study. The mean age of the patients was 62.6 ± 9.9 years, and 172 (52%) were male. The number and percentage of patients with dipper HT (DHT), NDHT, over-dipper HT (ODHT), and reverse-dipper HT (RDHT) were 89 (26%), 143 (43%), 11 (3%), and 88 (26%), respectively. When the groups were compared according to SS, the SS of the patients with RDHT were significantly higher (the SS were 6.33, 4.99, 3.09, and 2.7 for RDHT, ODHT, NDHT, and DHT, respectively, P = 0.003). The mean SS between the DHT group and the NDHT group (P = 0.03) and between the DHT group and the RDHT group (P = 0.01) was significantly different. The less decrease or increase in mean blood pressure (MnBP) values was significantly correlated with high SS. Conclusions NDHT, especially the reverse dipping pattern, is closely related to complex CAD. Meticulous consideration of dipping patterns can identify high-risk patients and improve clinical outcomes.

Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) is still a serious problem. Existing risk scores are insufficient for risk classification, especially in low and medium-risk patients. This study aims to evaluate if arterial stiffness (AS) measurement, which is associated with most of the known risk factors, can be a useful parameter for predicting subsequent CTRCD in patients with breast cancer (BC). Patients with BC were included in the study. All patients’ AS parameters such as pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx), augmentation pressure (AP), and echocardiographic parameters were obtained before treatment. During treatment, echocardiographic follow-up with routine parameters and left ventricle global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) were measured. Patients were evaluated on whether CTRCD occurred or not. A total of 67 patients were analyzed. The mean age of the study population was 54.9 ± 11 years. Baseline characteristics were similar except for age. No CTRCD diagnosis was obtained according to left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) reduction, but 18 patients (26.8%) developed CTRCD regarding the decline in LVGLS. Left ventricle hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction were more frequent in patients with CTRCD (p = 0.016 and p = 0.015, respectively). PWV, AIx, and AP as AS parameters were significantly higher in patients with CTRCD, but Alx@75 were not (p = 0.005, p = 0.034, p = 0.008, p = 0.077, respectively). A positive correlation between PWV and a decreased percent in LVGS (R = 0.607, p < 0.001) was observed. ROC curve analyses revealed an AUC of 0.747 (p = 0.02, 95% CI 0.632–0.832) for PWV. A PWV value of 9.2 m/s predicted CTRCD with 94% sensitivity and 73% specificity. AS measurement may be useful for predicting CTRCD in patients with low to medium-risk BC. Graphical Abstract