Objectives: The study aimed to assess the relation of anxiety and depression levels with hypertension in COVID-19 outbreak. The analysis of the association of selected socio-demographic and clinical parameters on the presence and severity of psychological distress was also performed. Methods: The study involved 91 patients applying with a medical history supportive of COVID-19 infection. According to the hospitalization criteria and diagnostic result of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test certainty of the disease, three groups were created. Patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test results were consisted of 31 hospitalized subjects. To assess the applicant psychological state, a specially developed questionnaire was used, as the presence and severities of the symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Results: Statistically, a significantly higher average level of depression and a higher incidence of anxiety were demonstrated among applicants in the Covid-19 pandemic (% 24 and % 44). Also a higher level of anxiety was demonstrated in hospitalized patients compared with the outpatient group. Different from the presence of depression symptoms, the presence of anxiety symptoms was associated independently with hypertension in our study group OR 2.6 (95% CI, 0.99–6.78) P = .04). Conclusions: In the aftermath of COVID-19 outbreak both anxiety and depression are common psychological disorders. Also, different from the symptoms of depression, the symptoms of anxiety are associated independently with hypertension. The described socio-demographic parameters and clinical characteristics had no impact on the symptoms of depression and anxiety irrespective of hospitalized status in the investigated groups.

Determining which patients will experience recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) is crucial for treatment modification. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of left atrial kinetic energy (LAKE) in AF recurrence. A total of 120 consecutive patients who achieved sinus rhythm (SR) with electrical direct current cardioversion and met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and LAKE values were calculated on the first day after cardioversion. Rhythm control was performed with 12-lead electrocardiography in the first-month follow-up. While 81 (67.5%) patients were in SR at one month, AF recurrence was detected in 39 (32.5%) patients. In the AF group, AF duration, cardioversion energy, number of diabetic patients, left atrium (LA) diameter, LA pre-mitral A wave volume, LA minimum volume, and pulmonary artery pressure values were significantly higher than in the SR group, while mitral A wave velocity and LAKE values were significantly lower. In multivariate regression analysis, AF duration (OR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.22 - 1.93; p < 0.001), LA diameter (OR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.10 - 1.61; p = 0.002), and LAKE (OR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.94 - 0.99; p = 0.007) were determined to be independent predictors of AF recurrence at one month. LA diameter, AF duration, and LAKE were found to be significant predictors of AF recurrence after cardioversion.

Varenicline could affect the T wave and QT interval. The interval from the peak to the end of the electrocardiographic (ECG) T wave (Tp-e) may correspond to the transmural dispersion of repolarization, and increased Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio are associated with malignant ventricular arrhythmias. In this study, we assessed the effects of varenicline on Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio and Tp-e/QTc ratio. Thirty healthy volunteers (15 healthy non-smokers [NS] and 15 healthy smokers [S]) were included in the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Varenicline (2 mg single dose) or placebo was administered in two different testing sessions (5 days after the first period, performed the second period). Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio and Tp-e/QTc ratio were assessed in the supine position and during handgrip exercise before and after the participants were given placebo or varenicline. Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio and Tp-e/QTc ratio were calculated from continuous ECG recordings and averages were used in the final analysis. There were no statistically significant differences among any of the Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio and Tp-e/QTc ratio before and after placebo administration in both groups (S and NS). In the S group, Tp-e and QTc interval, and Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratio were significantly increased after varenicline administration (Tp-e: 64.28 ± 8.78 vs. 70.42 ± ± 13.12; p = 0.02, QTc: 409.57 ± 28.17 vs. 425.28 ± 32.79; p = 0.02, Tp-e/QT: 0.18 ± 0.02 vs. 0.19 ± 0.03; p = 0.04, Tp-e/QTc: 0.17 ± 0.02 vs. 0.19 ± 0.02; p = 001) but these parameters were not changed in the NS group. Tp-e and QTc interval, and Tpe/QT and Tpe/QTc ratio were increased after varenicline administration in smokers.