The beginning of 2020 was characterized by the development of a new coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Information about the epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, clinical and laboratory diagnostics, as well as prevention and therapy for this disease is constantly being expanded and reviewed. The COVID-19 pandemic creates the need for the emergence of new conditions of specialized care for patients with heart rhythm and conduction disorders [1]. These recommendations are intended for general practitioners, internists, cardiologists, electrophysiologists/arrhythmologists, cardiovascular surgeons, functional diagnostics doctors, anesthesiologists-resuscitators, laboratory diagnostics specialists, health care organizers in the system of organizations and healthcare institutions that provide specialized care to patients with heart rhythm and conduction disorders.

The article discusses pathogenesis and treatment of COVID-19. The authors presented state-of-the-art insight into hemostatic disorders in patients with COVID-19 and clinical recommendations on prevention of thrombosis and thromboembolism in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. The article discussed in detail a new hypothesis proposed by Chinese physicians about a new component in the pathogenesis of COVID-19, namely, about the effect of SARS-CoV-2 virus on the hemoglobin beta-chain and the formation of a complex with porphyrin, which results in displacement of the iron ion. Thus, hemoglobin loses the capability for transporting oxygen, which aggravates hypoxia and worsens the prognosis. The article stated rules of hemotransfusion safety in the conditions of COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Aim To determine the role of left ventricular segmental (SLS) and general longitudinal strain (GLS) in early diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
Material and methods The study included 112 patients aged 58±7 years with suspected ACS without a history of ischemic heart disease (IHD) who were admitted to the hospital within 12 h of complaint onset. The control group consisted of 20 healthy, age- and sex-matched subjects. Speckle-tracking echocardiography was performed to assess SLS and GLS on admission and discharge. Ischemia was diagnosed when the SLS was decreased to 14% or lower with a simultaneous post-systolic shortening (PSS) of these segments >20% or when the initial lengthening of the segments was followed by PSS.
Results Decreased SLS with PSS of one or more segments was observed in 51.8 % of patients; 16.1% of patients had initial systolic lengthening of one or more segments followed by PSS. In 30.3 % of patients, GLS was 15.5 % or less; 82.3% of these patients had SLS disorders. Later, ACS was diagnosed in 72.3 % of the patients. ACS was not confirmed in 4 (5.2%) of 76 (67.9 %) patients with abnormal SLS changes. All these patients had low SLS values and high PSS values and did not have the initial systolic segmental lengthening. Seven of 9 (8 %) patients with false-negative SLS values had distal narrowing of a coronary artery and two patients had narrowing in the middle part of the artery. All patients with ACS and decreased GSL had a hemodynamically significant narrowing of more than one coronary artery. Incidence of two and more stenosed arteries was higher in patients with PSS and low GSL. Sensitivity and specificity of SLS for diagnosis of acute ischemia were 88.9 and 84.6 %, respectively.
Conclusion Assessment of LV strain has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of ACS in patients with the first IHD episode. The presence of PSS associated with decreased GSL may indicate multivascular IHD.

Aim      To evaluate compliance with self-monitoring and drug and non-drug treatment of patients after ADHF during the management at a specialized center for CHF treatment (CCHF) or in real-life clinical practice.

Material and methods  The study included 942 CHF patients after ADHF. In two years, the entire sample of patients was retrospectively divided into 4 groups based on their compliance with the management at the CCHF: group 1, 313 patients who were managed at the CCHF continuously for two years; group 2, 383 patients who choose the management at district outpatient clinics after discharge from a hospital; group 3, 197 patients who visited the CCHF for one year but then stopped the management; and group 4, 49 patients who initially preferred the management at district clinics but then switched to constant management at the CCHF. Compliance with recommendations was analyzed by data of outpatient clinical records or by data of structured telephone calls for patients who did not visit the CCHF or did not follow the visit schedule. Statistics was performed with a Statistica 7.0 for Windows software package.

Results Patients of groups 2 (72.4 %) and 3 (88.3 %) performed self-monitoring less frequently whereas patients of groups 1 (94.6 %) and 4 (87.8 %) performed self-monitoring more frequently (р_1 / 3=0.01, р_1 / 2<0.001, р_1 / 4=0.07, р_2 / 4=0.02, р_2 / 3<0.001, р_4 / 3=0.9). Patients of group 2 (58.1 %) performed self-monitoring of heart rate less frequently than patients of groups 1, 3, and 4 (90.7 %, 81.7 %, and 87.8 %; р_1 / 3=0.003, р_1 / 2<0.001, р_1 / 4=0.5, р_2 / 4<0.001, р_2 / 3<0.001, and р_4 / 3=0.3). Patients of group 2 performed body weight self-monitoring less frequently than patients of groups 1, 3, and 4 (78.6 %, 67.9 %, and 72.9 %; р_1 / 3=0.008, р_1 / 2<0.001, р_1 / 4=0.4, р_2 / 4=0.002, р_2 / 3<0.001, and р_4 / 3=0.5). Compliance with the diet and restriction of salt consumption was 32.3 % and 37.5 % in groups 1 and 4, and 24.9 % and 19.9 % in groups 2 and 3 (р_1 / 3=0.002, р_1 / 2=0.03, р_1 / 4=0.5, р_2 / 4=0.02, р_2 / 3=0.2, and р_4 / 3=0.009). Compliance with recommendations on physical rehabilitation was 44.7% in group 1, which was better than in groups 2, 3, and 4 (8.2 %, 21.6 %, and 9.1 %; р_1 / 2<0.001, р_1 / 3=0.0003, р_1 / 4=0.002, р_2 / 4=0.9, р_2 / 3=0.0006, and р_4 / 3=0.2). At the end of the second year of follow-up, the actual proportion of patients taking ACE inhibitors/angiotensin receptor antagonists was low in groups 2, 3, and 4 (43.2 %, 45 %, and 66.7 %) and satisfactory in group 1 (92.4 %; р_1 / 2<0.001, р_1 / 3<0.001, р_1 / 4<0.001, р_2 / 3=0.6, р_2 / 4=0.05, and р_3 / 4=0.05). Proportion of patients taking beta-blockers was greater in group 1 (97.2 %) than in groups 2, 3. and 4 (73.2 %, 71.1 %, and 90.5 %; р_1 / 2<0.001, р_1 / 3<0.001, р_1 / 4=00.08, р_2 / 3=0.6, р_2 / 4=0.1, and р_3 / 4=0.06). Patients of group 1 (96.2 %) showed good compliance with the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist treatment compared to groups 2, 3, and 4 (58.8 %, 55.4 %, and 81.2 %; р_1 / 2<0.001, р_1 / 3<0.001, р_1 / 4<0.001, р_2 / 3=0.5, р_2 / 4=0.1, and р_3 / 4=0.

Conclusion      Only scheduled management by a cardiologist of the specialized CCHF provided sufficient compliance with self-monitoring and drug and non-drug treatment of CHF during the long-term follow-up.

Aim To evaluate dynamics of biomarkers for endothelial dysfunction (ED), including endothelin-1 (ET-1) and von Willebrand factor (VWF) in patients with stomach cancer (adenocarcinoma) before and after polychemotherapy (PCT); to compare these results with respective values in healthy volunteers and patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD); to study correlations of the ED biomarkers with indexes of instrumental evaluation of endothelial dysfunction.
Material and methods The study included 75 participants, including 25 healthy volunteers (control group), 25 patients with documented CVDs (arterial hypertension + ischemic heart disease), and 25 patients of the main group with histologically documented stage II-IV stomach cancer (adenocarcinoma) who received different courses of PCT with platinum-based agents (oxaliplatin, cisplatin) and fluoropyrimidines (5 fluorouracil, capecitabin). Laboratory measurement of ED biomarkers, computerized nailfold video capillaroscopy (CNVC), and finger laser photoplethysmography (PPG) (methods for noninvasive evaluation of vascular wall and ED), electrocardiography, 24-h ECG Holter monitoring, and echocardiography (EchoCG) were performed for all patients of the main group prior to PCT and within one months after the last course completion. This evaluation was performed once for healthy volunteers and patients of the CVD group upon inclusion into the study.
Results In the main group, ET-1 levels were non-significantly lower than normal and did not change during the courses of antitumor treatment (0.95 [0.6; 1.4] and 0.94 [0.7; 1.4] pg /ml (р<0.9) before and after PCT, respectively). Statistically significant differences were found between the control group and oncological patients after the treatment (р<0.04). Levels of VWF remained within the normal range in all examined participants and did not significantly differ between study groups, including oncological patients before and after the specific treatment (р>0.05 for all comparisons). The correlation analysis detected significant correlations of ET-1 levels with functional disorders of microcirculation, ET-1 with the occlusion index (rs=0.56; p=0.005), ЕТ-1 with percentage of capillary restoration (PCR, rs= –0.72; p=0.018) and with the incidence rate of supraventricular extrasystole (rs=0.48; p=0.032).
Conclusion The dynamics of ED biomarkers was studied for the first time in patients with stomach cancer receiving a specific antitumor therapy. Although no significant changes in ЕТ-1 and VWF were observed during the PCT (probably due to exhaustion of the endothelial system and a small patient sample), these indexes can be considered as early vasculotoxicity markers due to the presence of significant correlations with indexes of impaired endothelial function according to the results of instrumental evaluation.

Aim To evaluate effectiveness of preventive telephone counseling with a nutritional component and distance support for three months with respect of motivation for lifestyle modification in patients with high and very high cardiovascular risk (CVR).
Material and methods This prospective, controlled, randomized clinical study in two parallel groups included patients with high and very high CVR (5–9 % and ≥10 % according to the SCORE scale) who had at least two criteria of metabolic syndrome. Patients were randomized to the main and control groups in a 1:1 ratio with age and gender stratification. The main group received comprehensive preventive counseling with a nutritional component and distant support via telephone once in two weeks for three months (total 6 consultations). Patients of the control group received standard counseling by a health center physician. Patients’ motivation for lifestyle changes was evaluated with a questionnaire at baseline and at 6 and 12 months.
Results The study included a total of 100 patients (mean age, 59.85±4.47 years, 80 % females). At baseline, 81 % of patients had high and 19% of patients had very high CVR. Patients of the study groups did not differ in major demographic and clinical characteristics. At 6 month of follow-up, the main group showed a significantly more pronounced positive changes in motivation and healthier lifestyle (50 % in the main group vs. 12% in the control group, р<0.01). At 12 months of follow-up, the number of such patients somewhat decreased to 38%. In this process, a vast majority of patients in the control group (82 %) continued theoretically considering the expediency of lifestyle modification.
Conclusions Preventive counseling with nutritional component and further distance support via telephone for three months for patients with high and very high CVR provided increased motivation for healthier lifestyle and positive behavioral changes.

 

Background Effects of drugs and biologically active supplements based on omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω3 PUFA) considerably depend on the standardized content of eicosatetraenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and other fatty acids in the extracts.
Material and methods In this study, we comprehensively examined the composition of 10 ω3 PUFA samples with chromatographic measurement of more than 40 metabolites of fatty acids and other compounds. The data on extract composition were analyzed with current methods of intelligent data analysis (metric condensation method; multidimensional scaling; principal component analysis with axis identification; topology-metrical approach to recognition).
Results Quantitative markers were obtained, which allowed separating the standardized ω3 PUFA-based samples (Omacor, Solgar omega-3 700, Femibion Natalker-2, Omega-3 concentrate, Omegamama) from less standardized ones (Fish oil-Teva, Omegatrin, Omeganol, etc.) based on results of a chromatographic analysis of fatty acid composition in the studied samples (EPA+DHA marker, ω6+ω11 marker, and standardization coefficient showing conformity of measured ω3 PUFA levels with the content stated by the manufacturer).
Conclusions Among the studied samples, the pharmaceutical product Omacor showed the best values of standardization indexes.

Aim To study the oxidative modification of red blood cell Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) in vivo and in vitro to substantiate the use of a new oxidative stress marker.
Material and methods Red blood cell Cu,Zn SOD was measured by depression of nitrotetrazolium blue reduction by the superoxide anion generated in xanthine oxidase xanthine oxidation. Red blood cell Cu,Zn SOD was measured immunochemically. The biochemical study was performed in the control group (patients with low extremity fracture without known history of cardiovascular diseases and hyperlipidemia) and in groups of patients with acute myocardial infarction, stable angina, and decompensated heart failure. For evaluation of oxidative stress intensity in IHD patients, an empirical SOD oxidative modification coefficient (OMCSOD) was proposed, which is a Cu,Zn SOD activity / Cu,Zn SOD content ratio.
Results The red blood cell Cu,Zn SOD activity was significantly decreased in all IHD groups compared to the control group. Furthermore, OMCSOD was also considerably decreased in IHD patients, which warrants the use of this biochemical index as an oxidative stress marker.
Conclusion It was shown that the Cu,Zn SOD modification was induced by interaction of the enzyme molecules with a natural dicarbonyl, malonic dialdehyde, and OMCSOD can be used for evaluation of oxidative stress intensity in IHD patients.

Aim To study tactics of outpatient physicians in choosing the treatment when the previous double antihypertensive therapy (AHT) fails and to analyze the effectivity of an amlodipine/indapamide/perindopril arginine triple combination (TC).
Material and methods The program included 1252 patients with arterial hypertension (AH); the TC group consisted of 992 (79.23 %) patients (38.3 % males; age, 61.6 [55.0; 67.9]); the control group included 260 (20.77 %) patients (37.7 % males; age, 60.6 [53.3; 67.4]). The main inclusion criteria were essential AH, age 18-79 years, insufficient response to previous AHT (clinical systolic blood pressure (SBP) >140–179 mm Hg). The study duration was three months. The following parameters were evaluated: dynamics of clinical and ambulatory BP (BP self-monitoring (BPSM); frequency of achieving the first goal of <140 / 90 mm Hg and the goal of <130 / 80 mm Hg); and changes in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and quality of life (QoL). Responses to TC were analyzed in groups with different ranges of increased baseline SBP in patients with AH and diabetes mellitus (DM)/impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), overweight or obesity, and chronic kidney disease (CKD, reduced estimated GFR (eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2). Safety was evaluated based on records of adverse events (AEs).
Results The TC group had a more severe condition at baseline by clinical parameters and history and had higher baseline BP, which made difficult the intergroup comparison. Nevertheless at three months, the decrease in clinical SBP was more pronounced in the TC group (from 162.1  to 126.8 mm Hg, Δ=35.7  mm Hg) than in the control group (from 157.8 to 128.4  mm Hg, Δ=29.4  mm Hg). 87.8% of patients in the TC group and 81.9 % (р=0.012) in the control group achieved the first BP goal of <140 / 90 mm Hg; 34.3% and 28.2% of patients, respectively, achieved the BP goal of <130 / 80 mm Hg (р=0.055). The more effective SBP control in the TC group was associated with a pronounced BP decrease with higher BP values at baseline, which was also confirmed by an analysis in subgroups with SBP 140–160, 160–180, and >180 mm Hg. The TC treatment was associated with a pronounced antihypertensive effect with respect of BPSM values, improved QoL, and renal function. Significant decreases in BP and achievement of BP goals by a vast majority of patients receiving TC were also observed in subgroups with DM or IGT, overweight and/or obesity, and CKD. AEs were observed during the treatment only in 8 patients (0.64 %), which confirmed good tolerability and high safety of the therapy.
Conclusion The study results demonstrated a therapeutic effect of the amlodipine/indapamide/perindopril arginine fixed-dose combination (Triplixam®). This effect was evident as control of clinical BP with any baseline BP level, including different ranges of increased SBP, in AH combined with DM, IGT, obesity, and CKD, which offers advantages over a subjective choice of AHT. TC improved BPSM values, QoL indexes, provided nephroprotection, and was well tolerated.

Aim To study the interrelationship between intensity of chronic systemic inflammation (CSI) with severity of the condition and intestinal microbiocenosis parameters in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).
Material and methods 47 hospitalized patients with symptomatic CHF were evaluated. The following parameters were determined: clinical condition; N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). C-reactive protein (CRP); serum interleukins (IL) 6 and 10; and intestinal microbiocenosis composition by mass-spectrometry of microbial markers in whole blood. Microbiocenosis indexes were compared in the main group and in 38 outpatient patients with arterial hypertension and ischemic heart disease without CHF.
Results Direct, medium-power correlations were found between CRP and IL-6 concentrations and severity of clinical condition (NT-proBNP, ХСН stage, and edema severity) in patients with CHF. Most patients with CHF had lower numbers of bifido-, lacto-, propionic-, and eubacteria, and Clostridium (С.) ramosum and higher numbers of aspergillus. Among CHF patients, the highest indexes of endotoxemia, gram (-) bacteria, cocci, actinomycetes, and microfungi were observed in the group with NT-proBNP from 400 to 2000 pg/ml. Direct correlations were observed for amounts of C. hystolyticum, Pseudonocardia spp., and Aspergillus spp. with IL-6 and IL-10 and unidirectional inverse correlation were observed for these cytokines with Propionibacterium acnes and jensenii, Streptomyces spp., and Nocardia asteroides. In addition, IL-6 concentration was negatively correlated with contents of Staphylococcus aureus, C. difficile, C. ramosum, Eggerthella lenta, and Corynebacterium spp. and was positively correlated with C. propionicum, Moraxella spp. and Flavobacterium spp. Concentration of IL-6 directly correlated with the number of Eubacterium spp. and inversely correlated with numbers of Ruminicoccus spp. and Streptomyces farmamarensis. The amount of Streptomyces farmamarensis negatively correlated with CRP concentrations.
Conclusion The study results evidence the significance of intestinal microbial-tissue complex in the pathogenesis of CSI in CHF and allow suggesting this complex as a promising target for therapy.

Aim Analyzing a 5-year experience of surgical treatment of cardiosurgical patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).
Material and methods The study analyzed results of surgical treatment with extracorporeal circulation in 132 patients with AF who underwent the Maze-IV procedure using a radiofrequency ablator with transmurality feedback from 2013 through 2018.
Results Two fatal outcomes were observed in the study group. These outcomes took place in the early postoperative period and were associated with progressive acute heart failure in patients with repeated surgery for mitral valve restenosis. 61.2% of the patients had no AF. Recurrent AF was observed during the first three years after surgery in association with withdrawal of the antiarrhythmic medication, which confirmed a need for long-term antiarrhythmic therapy. Analysis of risk factors for AF relapse identified significant predictors, including left ventricular dilatation larger than 5.5 cm at baseline and more than two-year duration of a history of arrhythmias.
Conclusion The Maze-IV procedure proved an effective and safe method of surgical treatment in AF patients with acquired heart defects and ischemic heart disease, which allowed maintaining sinus rhythm in 61.2% of patients for 5 years. Preventive amiodarone saturation reduced the risk of AF relapse by 24.2 % (p=0.038) and incidence of postoperative arrhythmic complications by 34.9 % (p=0.008) in cardiosurgical patients.

Aim To study clinical and laboratory associations of hepatic fibrosis indexes in patients with decompensated NYHA functional class II-IV chronic heart failure (CHF).
Material and methods The study included 128 patients admitted to the cardiological or therapeutic department of the University Clinical Hospital #4 at the I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) with symptoms of CHF associated with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and/or arterial hypertension (AH). All patients had signs of liver disease (liver enlargement on physical examination ± diffuse changes in hepatic tissue according to ultrasound data). Mean age was 70.59±10.71 years. Along with general clinical examination, severity of hepatic fibrosis was evaluated by calculated indexes, FIB-4, APRI, MELD-XI, and BARD. All calculations were based on laboratory data obtained within the first two days of hospitalization for decompensated CHF, at the onset of active therapy with intravenous diuretics. Statistical analyses were performed with the R programming language (3.6.1).
Results In patients with NYHA FC II–IV CHF, the FIB-4 index significantly increased with the increase in NYHA FC (р<0.05). Also, the high liver density by most fibrosis indexes correlated with the probability of LV EF decrease to <40 % (FIB-4: RR, 1.32 at 95 % CI from 0.53 to 3.28, р=0.079; MELD-XI: RR, 1.62 at 95 % CI from 1.19 to 2.20, р=0.004; BARD: median LV EF, 42.5 % vs. 56 %, р=0.019), and a tendency to heart rhythm disorders was observed (FIB-4: RR, 1.92 at 95 % CI from 0.75 to 4.90, р=0.218; BARD: RR, 1.09 at 95 % CI from 0.97 to 1.22, р=0.174; MELD-XI: RR, 1.34 at 95 % CI from 0.94 to 1.90, р=0.101). Increases in liver fibrosis indexes correlated with other multiorgan disorders in CHF patients evident as a decrease in platelet count (FIB-4: р<0.01; APRI: р=0.045) and a tendency to a decrease in hemoglobin (FIB-4: 127 g/l vs. 137 g/l, p=0.249; APRI: 127 g/l vs. 136 g/l, p=0.749). Patients with a high liver density more frequently had cardiorenal syndrome diagnosed by reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimated by CKD-EPI to less than 60 ml/min / 1.73 m2 (FIB-4: р<0.03; MELD-XI: p=0.0001; BARD: р=0.005). In comparing liver fibrosis indexes in subgroups of CHF patients with preserved and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LV EF), significant differences were found only for MELD-XI (12.08 vs. 9.32, р=0.001).
Conclusions For all studied indexes, correlations were observed with LV EF, decreases in hemoglobin, and incidence of heart rhythm disorders. For the BARD, FIB-4, and MELD-XI indexes, high results of calculations correlated with the presence of other predictors for unfavorable prognosis and disease severity (LV EF, NYHA FC, presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and lower GFR). Liver fibrosis indexes are a new and promising but understudied instrument for evaluation of prognosis in CHF patients, which requires further study to determine most appropriate prognostic formulas.

Aim To study quantitatively the two-way relationship between parameters of glycemic variability and development of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) on chronic sulfonylurea (SM) therapy by synchronous, professional glucose and cardiac monitoring.
Material and methods The study included 421 patients with type 2 DM on SM therapy. A 5-day synchronous glucose and cardiac monitoring was performed for these patients in a retrospective mode using an iPro2 (Medtronic, USA) continuous glycemia monitoring (CGM) system and Holter monitoring. Glycemic endpoints (CGM-parameters of glycemia variability and integral indexes) and cardiological endpoints (ventricular rhythm disorders (VRD), ST segment depression (dST), and corrected QT interval (QTc)) were evaluated.
Results Clear correlations were found between the ST segment depression and the increase in TIR-HYPO index and the length of QTc. The strongest correlation was observed for VRD and the increase in TIR-HYPO. Moderate correlations were observed between VRD and the decrease in TIR-NORMO and between increased variabilities of glycemia (increases in SD and number of glycemia excursions >4 mmol/l/h) and integral indexes (mean CGM-level of glycemia and HbA1c). Elongation of the QTc interval was associated with increased TIR-HYPO, decrease in maximum glycemia, and development of dST.
Conclusion The glucose and cardiac monitoring confirmed the close interrelation between the quality of glycemic control and cardiovascular disorders and should be recommended for a wider use in real-life clinical practice for determining the cardiometabolic status of patients and personalization of hypoglycemic therapy.

Aim To develop models for predicting the risk of target organs damage (TOD) in different phenotypes of “masked” arterial hypertension (MAH) based on methods of machine learning (ML).
Material and methods A retrospective cohort analysis was performed for 284 clinical records of patients (261 males, 23 females; median age, 38 years). Group 1 included 125 patients with grade 1-2 arterial hypertension (AH) and low or moderate risk; group 2 included 159 subjects with normal “office” blood pressure (BP) exposed to chronic professional stress. The 24-h BP monitoring (24-h BPM) and ultrasound examination of the heart and carotid arteries were performed; glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated using the СКD-EPI formula. MAH was phenotyped by clustering 24-h BPM data, and the risk of TOD was predicted by analysis of odd ratios (OR) and with the ML methods, random forest (RF) and artificial neural networks (ANN). Data were analyzed using the R language in the RStudio environment.
Results According to results of the 24-h BPM and cluster analysis, 121 (76.1 %) subjects of group 2 had MAH. The MAH phenotypes were identified as follows: systolic-diastolic (SDMAH) (43.8 %); isolated systolic (ISMAH) (35.5 %), and isolated diastolic (IDMAH) (20.7%). As compared to stable AH, subjects with different MAH phenotypes showed both increases and decreases in individual 24-h BPM indexes. Thus, in subjects with IDMAH, mean 24-h values of systolic and diastolic BP were significantly lower than with AH while in SDMAH, they were considerably higher. The OR analysis demonstrated that odds of differently located TOD were associated with definite MAH phenotypes. With that, ISMAH was associated with the highest risk of glomerular hyperfiltration; IDMAH was associated with reduced GFR and vascular remodeling; and SDMAH was associated with left ventricular myocardial hypertrophy. The developed models for predicting the risk of TOD based on the RF and ANN methods showed a high accuracy, which was provided by multistep procedures of selecting the predictors and cross-validation.
Conclusion Modern ML technologies enhance the risk stratification of patients with different clinical variants of AH.

 

Aim To identify independent predictors for long-term serious adverse cardiovascular events following percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in patients with a combination of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to develop a prognostic mathematical model.
Materials and methods Design: a prospective cohort study. The study included 254 patients with IHD associated with COPD after PCI (in 119 patients, PCI was performed for acute coronary syndrome and in 135 patients, PCI was elective). Follow-up duration was up to 36 months. Composite endpoint included cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke or repeated, unscheduled myocardial revascularization. Cox regression with stepwise inclusion of variables was used for identification of predictors for the composite endpoint.
Results The following independent predictors of serious adverse cardiovascular events were identified: number of stenoses in major coronary artery branches, ankle-brachial index. glomerular filtration rate, age, distance in 6-min walk test, COPD phenotype with frequent exacerbations (FE), and functional residual capacity (FRC) of lungs. The mathematical model based on the Cox regression for prediction of serious adverse cardiovascular events had a 75% sensitivity and a 81% specificity.
Conclusion Incidence of long-term serious adverse cardiovascular events in patients with a combination of IHD and COPD after PCI depends not only on traditional cardiovascular risk factors but also on characteristics of COPD itself, such as the FE phenotype and the FRC indicative of lung hyperinflation. The proposed mathematical model based on the Cox regression can be used for evaluating the odds for adverse cardiovascular events after PCI in patients with a combination of IHD and COPD.

Introduction Behçet’s disease (BD) is a chronic, multisystemic disease characterised by vascular involvement. Acute and chronic inflammatory processes associated with BD may cause endothelial dysfunction, which can then lead to a subsequent increase of arterial stiffness and altered pressure wave reflections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurements in patients with inactive BD and control subjects.
Methods We studied 50 patients with inactive BD and 49 healthy control subjects without known cardiovascular disease. Carotid-femoral PWV was determined in all subjects by the same expert research clinician using Complior device (Colson, Paris, France).
Results Mean disease duration was 3.23±2.31 years. Patients with BD (mean age 36.04±9.94 years) had significantly higher PWV levels compared to controls (9.57±1.88 vs. 8.47±1.13 m / s; p=0,003). PWV was found to be positively correlated with age, systolic, diastolic, mean blood pressure, waist, and waist / hip ratio.
Conclusion In our study we demonstrated that patients with BD exhibit significantly increased arterial stiffness assessed by increased carotid-femoral PWV compared to healthy control subjects.

A hypertensive crisis is a sudden increase in blood pressure (BP) to an individually high level associated with clinical symptoms and target organ damage, in which BP must be reduced immediately. Since 2018 in Europe and since 2020 in Russia, an uncomplicated hypertensive crisis is recommended to be considered as a part of malignant (uncontrolled) arterial hypertension. The clinical picture of increased BP in elderly patients is characterized by nonspecific symptoms even in target organ damage. Management of this group of patients requires a physician to know the patient’s comorbidities and the drugs taken on a regular basis to minimize development of side effects of the administered drugs and their undesirable interaction with the chronic therapy.

The T-wave inversion (TWI) is a common electrocardiographic finding. Causes for TWI are numerous and sometimes TWI may appear in life-threatening conditions. The aim of this review was to provide an up-to-date analysis of TWI, including i) definition and prevalence; ii) causes, and iii) differential diagnosis in benign TWI, reversible myocardial ischemia of the left ventricular anterior wall; takotsubo cardiomyopathy; subarachnoid hemorrhage; pulmonary embolism; right ventricular arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy; and “cardiac memory”. The review presents practical electrophysiological criteria, which allow suspecting in time a life-threatening condition to choose an up-to-date treatment.

Chronic heart failure (CHF) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and very common comorbidities with bidirectional, mutually aggravating courses. DM2 is known as an independent risk factor of cardiovascular complications whereas a higher CHF functional class is associated with increased risk of DM2. At present time, hypoglycemic drugs of the gliflozin class and the angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) are widely discussed in connection with their use in the treatment of patients with CHF and DM. The PARADIGM-HF study investigated effects of long-term treatment of CHF with reduced ejection fraction with presently the only representative of the ARNI class, a single supramolecular complex of valsartan-sacubitril. This medicine has already exceled enalapril at the effect not only on the incidence of nonfatal and fatal cardiovascular events but also on general mortality. Mean age of patients included into that study was 63.8±11.5 years; 21 % of them were females. In real-life clinical practice, physicians more frequently see older patients, and most of them are females, particularly with DM2. On the other hand, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, including empagliflozin, significantly decreased the death rate and the frequency of CHF exacerbations in patients with DM2 and concomitant cardiovascular diseases, including CHF. This article describes a clinical case of initiating the valsartan-sacubitril treatment in combination with empagliflozin in an elderly female patient with congestive CHF with intermediate ejection fraction (EF) and comorbidities, including a history of myocardial infarction and DM2. Of interest is the rapid positive dynamics of clinical, laboratory (NT-proBNP) and instrumental (echocardiography) markers of CHF. At 3 months, the EF “recovered” from intermediate to preserved during the use of a comprehensive cardio-reno-metabolic approach. Both cardiologists and endocrinologists should definitely consider this approach in managing such patients since current cardiological drugs have additional pleiotropic metabolic effects whereas hypoglycemic drugs, in their turn, influence the cardiological prognosis.