Possible correlation between Triglyceride/HDL ratio and subclinical myocardial damage in patients with cardiovascular risk factors.

Aims: The triglyceride-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio is considered a predictor of cardiovascular (CV) disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate the TG/HDL-C ratio as CV risk factor and its possible correlation with subclinical myocardial damage.

Methods: We enrolled 545 patients, all of whom underwent oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

Early Effect of Supplementation with Essential Amino Acids on Cardiac Performance in Elderly Patients with Heart Failure and Sarcopenia.

The aim of the present observational study was to evaluate the early effect of free-form essential amino acid (EAA) supplementation on cardiac and muscular performance in elderly patients with chronic heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and sarcopenia, as add-on to the optimized medical therapy (OMT) for HF. The present study included 60 elderly Caucasian patients suffering from HFrEF and sarcopenia. At the baseline and at follow-up, all patients underwent complete physical examination with the determination of the main anthropometric and hemodynamic parameters.

Association between nocturnal continuous positive airway pressure and renal function decline in a cohort of elderly patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome-An observational study.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of rapid kidney function decline (RKFD). Intermittent hypoxia, oxidative stress, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction cause structural and functional renal damage, leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment potentially prevents these deleterious effects on kidney function.

Atrial Fibrillation, Heart Failure Phenotypes, and Mortality Risk in the Nationwide START Registry: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Background: Data on atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are scarce. We investigated the association of HFpEF with all-cause mortality in AF.

Methods: We included 10 369 patients with AF on oral anticoagulants from the nationwide ongoing START (Survey on Anticoagulated Patients Register) registry.

Long-term effects of selexipag in systemic sclerosis-associated digital ulcers: a case control multicentre observational study.

Objectives: Digital ulcers (DUs) affect ∼50% of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, causing significant pain and functional impairment. Current management involves both systemic and local therapies. However, the burden in terms of pain and quality of life due to refractory DUs still remains heavy.

Gliflozines as add-on to Arni in echocardiographic, sarcopenic and oxidative stress parameters in elderly patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Sarcopenia is common in patients with heart failure (HF) and it is frequently associated with other comorbidities. Sarcopenia has been linked to an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in HF patients.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to evaluate, in a cohort of older adult's patients affected by HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and sarcopenia, already being treated with sacubitril/valsartan, the effect of add-on therapy with SGLT2i on clinical, functional abilities, muscle performance and effects on quality of life.

Using Optimal Survival Tree Model for AF Event-Free Survival Time Prediction.

This study presents a methodology to acquire, integrate, and analyze clinical data based on an innovative application of the Optimal Survival Tree (OST) algorithm. It has been tested on a clinical dataset of 4114 patients with a follow-up of 59.0 ± 19.

Prognostic role of short physical performance battery in elderly hospitalized atrial fibrillation patients.

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common supraventricular arrhythmia, especially in elderly, in whom may contribute to physical impairment. The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) is particularly important for assessing the overall physical functionality but the prognostic role of functional limitation, assessed with the SPPB, in elderly hospitalized AF patients is unknown. The objective of this study is to assess the potential impact of functional disability, evaluated as SPPB < 8 points, on the prognosis of elderly patients with AF who are hospitalized.

Management of Atrial Fibrillation in Elderly Patients: A Whole New Ballgame?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent sustained supraventricular arrhythmia, particularly in older adults, with its incidence increasing dramatically with age. This condition is a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality, being closely linked to an elevated risk of heart failure, ischemic stroke, systemic thromboembolism, and dementia. The complexities of managing AF in the elderly arise from age-related physiological changes, comorbidities, frailty, and the challenges of polypharmacy.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9: a promising marker of cardiovascular risk in post-menopausal diabetic women in primary prevention.

Background And Aims: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) increases circulating LDL levels and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk; its levels may be related to the dysregulation of glycemic control and may be affected by estrogens. The aim of this study was to assess factors related to PCSK9 levels, and to evaluate the correlation between PCSK9 levels and CV parameters in post-menopausal diabetic women in primary prevention.

Methods: Generalized linear models (GLM) were adopted to evaluate predictors of PCSK9 levels as well as factors related to CV outcomes, such as pulse wave velocity (PWV), pulse pressure (PP), and augmentation index (AI).

Early hemodynamic impact of SGLT2 inhibitors in overweight cardiometabolic heart failure: beyond fluid offloading to vascular adaptation- a preliminary report.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is increasingly recognized as a heterogeneous cardiometabolic disorder, often in the context of overweight/obesity independently from diabetes. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) reduce HF hospitalizations and cardiovascular mortality across ejection fraction (EF) categories, yet their early hemodynamic effects in cardiometabolic HF, and with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in particular, remain underexplored.

Methods: A prospective, single-center study included 20 consecutive HF patients receiving SGLT2i alongside optimized therapy.

Effects of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment on Vascular Function in a Real-Life Cohort of Elderly Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and has a detrimental effect on vascular function, in particular on arterial stiffness and endothelial function. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the gold-standard therapy for OSAS and its effects on arterial stiffness and endothelial function have been demonstrated in non-elderly patients.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of one year of CPAP treatment on arterial stiffness, through assessment of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), and on endothelial function, through the reactive hyperaemia index (RHi), in a real-life cohort of elderly patients with moderate-to-severe OSAS and several comorbidities.

Effects of SGLT2-Inhibitors on Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment, Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress, and Platelet Activation in Elderly Diabetic Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Background: Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) represents a major comorbidity in the elderly and is associated with cognitive impairment (CoI) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this context, there is an increase in oxidative stress and platelet activation biomarkers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 6 months' treatment with SGLT2i on functional, mood-related, and cognitive aspects, assessed by performing a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), and on oxidative stress and platelet activation biomarkers, in a cohort of HFpEF elderly patients with T2DM.

Overexpression of BAG3 (Bcl2-associated athanogene 3) in serum and skin of patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: BAG3 (Bcl2-associated athanogene3) is able to induce the transformation of cancer-associated fibroblasts to alpha smooth muscle actin (a-SMA) positive (+) myofibroblasts. In systemic sclerosis (SSc), a-SMA+ myofibroblasts also play an important role in the progression of fibrosis in the skin and involved internal organs. The aim of the study was to investigate whether BAG3 is overexpressed in SSc and may be a biomarker of fibrogenesis.

Effect of SGLT2-Inhibitors on Polygraphic Parameters in Elderly Patients Affected by Heart Failure, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, and Sleep Apnea.

Obstructive sleep apneas (OSAs) and central sleep apneas (CSAs) are the most common comorbidities in Heart Failure (HF) that are strongly associated with all-cause mortality. Several therapeutic approaches have been used to treat CSA and OSA, but none have been shown to significantly improve HF prognosis. Our study evaluated the effects of a 3-months treatment with sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) on polygraphic parameters in patients with sleep apnea (SA) and HF, across the spectrum of ejection fraction, not treated with continuous positive air pressure (CPAP).

Prognostic role of serum albumin levels in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Hypoalbuminemia is common in heart failure (HF) patients; however, there are no data regarding the possible long-term prognostic role of serum albumin (SA) in the younger population with chronic HF without malnutrition. The aim of this study was to examine the long-term prognostic role of SA levels in predicting major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in middle-aged outpatients with chronic HF.

Methods: In the present retrospective analysis, 378 subjects with HF were enrolled.

Sex-based differences in the comprehensive geriatric assessment in elderly hospitalized patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) represents the most common supraventricular arrhythmia, with a prevalence of 1-3 % in the world population. Growing evidences show that AF plays an important role as a risk factor for the development of cognitive impairment (CoI) and dementia, depression and functional limitation. The purpose of the study is to evaluate, in a large cohort of elderly hospitalized patients with nonvalvular AF (NVAF) on direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) therapy, the prevalence of CoI, depression, and functional limitation, and to assess the different variables that may be detrimental or protective on the risk of CoI or functional limitation.

Cardiovascular Biomarkers in Cardio-Oncology: Antineoplastic Drug Cardiotoxicity and Beyond.

Serum biomarkers represent a reproducible, sensitive, minimally invasive and inexpensive method to explore possible adverse cardiovascular effects of antineoplastic treatments. They are useful tools in risk stratification, the early detection of cardiotoxicity and the follow-up and prognostic assessment of cancer patients. In this literature review, we aim at describing the current state of knowledge on the meaning and the usefulness of cardiovascular biomarkers in patients with cancer; analyzing the intricate relationship between cancer and cardiovascular disease (especially HF) and how this affects cardiovascular and tumor biomarkers; exploring the role of cardiovascular biomarkers in the risk stratification and in the identification of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity; and providing a summary of the novel potential biomarkers in this clinical setting.

Appropriateness of direct oral anticoagulant prescribing in older subjects with atrial fibrillation discharged from acute medical wards.

Aims: Knowledge on the prescriptive practice of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in older subjects with atrial fibrillation (AF) hospitalized in acute medical wards is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and appropriateness of DOAC prescriptions in hospitalized older subjects with AF, discharged from acute medical wards.

Methods: We analysed a cohort of 609 subjects with AF, aged ≥65 years (mean age 85 years) enrolled from 39 geriatric and nephrology wards in Italy.

Endothelial Dysfunction and Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction-An Updated Review of the Literature.

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome consisting of typical symptoms and signs due to structural and/or functional abnormalities of the heart, resulting in elevated intracardiac pressures and/or inadequate cardiac output. The vascular system plays a crucial role in the development and progression of HF regardless of ejection fraction, with endothelial dysfunction (ED) as one of the principal features of HF. The main ED manifestations (i.