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Introduction: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is standard for heart failure patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≤35%) and QRS duration ≥130ms despite optimal medical treatment1. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study that involved patients with implanted biventricular heart electrostimulators with (CRT-D) or without (CRT-P) defibrillator functions since 2011 to April 2018. The goal was to assess the CRT efficiency during check-ups after 6 months. Results: Including 40 patients, 23 men and 17 women of an average age of 66.3 years. There were 4 (10%) patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (IDCM), while 36 (90%) of the non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NIDCM) had equal gender distribution. The average width of the QRS was 160 ms, and 75% of patients presented with typical Strauss left bundle branch block (LBBB). At the time of implantation, 6 (15%) patients had atrial fibrillation. The average LVEF value was 28%, and their NYHA status was III. CRTD was implanted in all patients with IDCM. CRT-P was implanted in 19 and CRT-D in 17 patients with NIDCM. In 36 (85%) patients, there was an improvement of LVEF of which 11 (all with NIDCM, sinus rhythm and typical LBBB) achieved almost normal heart function (LVEF ≥50%) with regression of LV volume. There was no improvement in NYHA status with 5 (12.5%) patients, and with 6 (15%) there was deterioration or there was no improvement in LVEF. Four (10%) patients were hospitalized for acute heart failure. The average LVEF was 45.4% and the NYHA status was I/II. Sudden deaths or syncope in CRT-P patients were absent, while appropriate and necessary treatment of tachyarrhythmia occurred in 3 patients with CRT-D. Lethal outcomes were with 3 patients (one non-cardiac and two non-sudden cardiac deaths). Conclusion: Targeted patient selection with proper left ventricular lead implantation and optimal device programming improves the response rate to resynchronization therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Anemia is frequent in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and is connected to a worse prognosis, regardless the severity and type. The correction of anemia contributes to the improvement of health, which also reduces the number of hospitalizations, improves the survival rate and the quality of life.1-3 Patients and Methods: This retrospective analysis includes patients with CHF and a reduced systolic function of the left ventricle who have been treated for the last three years at the Department of Cardiology University Hospital Centre "Sestre milosrdnice" in Zagreb. The method of parallel sample was used to compare the data of a hundred patients with anemia and a hundred patients without anemia. Using the statistical analysis of multiple factors it was attempted to determine the influence of anemia as an independent risk factor in the number of repeated hospitalizations. Results: Although patients with anemia were older than those without anemia (median 77 (66-85): 67.5 (58-75.3); p <0.0001, Mann-Whitney), it was determined that patients with CHF and anemia were hospitalized more frequently than those who have CHF without anemia (median 4 (3- 6):2 (1-4); p <0.0001, Mann-Whitney). Patients with anemia were more often examined in the unified urgent reception (median (4 (3-6): 2 (1-4); p <0.0001, Mann-Whitney). Conclusion: Anemia in patients with CHF represents a significant factor of a bad prognosis and can cause more frequent hospitalizations and examinations in the emergency department. Even treating these patients with high doses of oral iron hasn't led to a clinical improvement, so a new protocol was introduced with a proven and beneficial treatment of these patients with high dose intravenous iron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]