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Aim: Comparative analysis of clinical, anamnestic, and laboratory and instrumental data of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and iron deficiency (ID) diagnosed according to the AHA/ESC/RSC criteria, and CHF patients diagnosed with ID based on decreased transferrin saturation (TSAT) ≤19.8% or serum iron (Fe) ≤13 μmol/l., Material and Methods: An additional analysis of the ID-CHF-RF study was performed. The analyzed population included 498 patients (198 women) with CHF. In addition to the ID criteria provided by the protocol (AHA/ESC/RSC criteria: ferritin <100 μg/l or ferritin from 100 to 299 μg/l and TSAT<20%), concentrations of ID biomarkers were assessed, which showed high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of ID compared to the morphological picture of the bone marrow (TSAT<19.8% or Fe ≤13 μmol/l). Subgroups of patients with ID determined only by the AHA/ESC/RSC criteria, only by the TSAT≤19.8% and Fe ≤13 μmol/l criteria, and by both were analyzed., Results: ID diagnosed by the AHA/ESC/RSC criteria was found in 83.1% of patients. The TSAT ≤19.8% and Fe ≤13 μmol/l criteria revealed ID in 74.5% of patients. In 341 patients (76.8%), ID was diagnosed using both criteria. Patients with ID diagnosed by the TSAT≤19.8% and Fe≤13 μmol/l criteria, compared with patients with ID diagnosed by the AHA/ESC/RKO criteria, had a 50% lower Fe (9.8 μmol/l vs. 19.4 μmol/l) and a higher incidence of anemia (43.3% vs. 23.3%) and diabetes mellitus (DM) (36.7% and 24.7%). Also, these patients had higher values of body mass index (BMI) and NT-proBNP concentration (2317 [1305;9092] vs. 1691 [709;3856] pg/ml), and lower LV EF values (41.5 [29.0;54.5]% vs. 45.0 [34.0;54.0]%), respectively. The most severe course of CHF and the greatest changes in laboratory tests associated with ID and anemia were observed in patients with ID determined by two criteria. Patients in this group were older, with a higher BMI, more frequent presence of atrial fibrillation, and higher NT-proBNP (4182 [1854;9341] pg/ml)., Conclusion: Patients with isolated low ferritin are characterized by less severe clinical and functional impairment compared to patients with low TSAT or Fe. At the same time, patients with ferritin higher than 300 μg/l and low TSAT and/or Fe were characterized by very severe CHF and a low functional status, although this may not be related with ID. Thus, the use of the ferritin-based criteria of ID may lead to overdiagnosis of ID in some patients and, at the same time, miss some of the most "severe" patients who likely require the ID correction. Patients with ID who show a decrease in all three parameters are likely to benefit most from Fe supplementation. It is advisable to perform additional studies on the effect of Fe supplements on the course and prognosis of the disease in this cohort of patients.

Aim: To study clinical and demographic characteristics, treatment options, and clinical outcomes in patients with myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) compared with patients with myocardial infarction with obstructive coronary arteries (MIOCA)., Material and Methods: This single-center prospective observational study included 712 successive patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction (MI), who routinely underwent direct coronary angiography. Based on the presence of stenosing coronary atherosclerosis, the patients were divided into two groups: MIOCA (coronary stenosis ≥50%) and MINOCA (coronary stenosis <50% without other, alternative causes). Clinical outcomes included in-hospital and long-term overall mortality, and cardiovascular rehospitalization. The median follow-up was 1.5 years., Results: MINOCA was diagnosed in 73 (10.3%) patients, 37 (50%) of whom were women. The median age of patients with MINOCA was 61 years and in the MIOCA group 65 years. No significant differences in cardiovascular risk factors were found between patients with MINOCA and MIOCA. In 53.4% of cases, the cause of MINOCA was a discrepancy between the myocardial oxygen demand and supply, and in 35.6% of cases, the cause was hypertensive crisis and pulmonary edema. The factors associated with MINOCA included an age ≤58 years, female gender, absence of the ST-segment elevation, absence of areas of impaired local contractility, and presence of aortic stenosis and bronchopulmonary infection. Patients with MINOCA were less likely to be prescribed acetylsalicylic acid, P2Y12 inhibitors, dual antiplatelet therapy, beta-blockers, and statins (p<0.05). Data on long-term outcomes were available for 87.5% of patients (n=623). The prognosis of patients with MIOCA was comparable for in-hospital mortality (1.5% vs. 6.2%; p=0.161) and long-term overall mortality (6.1% vs. 14.7%; p=0.059). Cardiovascular rehospitalizations were more frequent in the MINOCA group (33.3% vs. 21.5%; p=0.042)., Conclusion: The prevalence of MINOCA in our study was 10.3% among all patients with acute MI. MINOCA patients had comparable generally recognized cardiovascular risk factors with MIOCA patients. MINOCA patients had a comparable prognosis for in-hospital and long-term mortality and more often required cardiovascular rehospitalization.

Objectives: To evaluate the prognostic value (total mortality + repeated hospitalization for heart failure (HF)) of ultrasound diagnostic methods in patients with acute decompensated HF (ADHF)., Methods: The subjects were patients with chronic HF, who were hospitalized for ADHF. Using ultrasound methods-lung ultrasound, ultrasound assessment of hepatic venous congestion as per the venous excess ultrasound (VExUS) protocol, and indirect elastometry-we assessed the number of B-lines, hepatic venous congestion, and liver density of the patients. Clinical outcomes were assessed using a structured telephone survey method at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge. Combined overall mortality and readmission rates associated with HF were assessed. Threshold values for different methods for detecting congestion were set as follows: the number of B-lines in ultrasound data > 5; liver density > 6.2 kPa., Results: The subjects were 207 patients (54.1% male; mean age = 70.7 ± 12.8 years). A total of 63 (30.4%) endpoints and 23 (11.1%) deaths were detected within 364 days (IQR = 197-365). Liver density > 6.2 kPa had a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.9 (95% CI: 1.0-3.3; p = 0.029). Hepatic venous congestion (VExUS protocol) had HR of 2.8 (95% CI: 1.3-5.7; p = 0.004). There was a significant increase in the risk of overall prognostic value in the presence of congestion, identified by liver fibroelastometry + lung ultrasound (HR = 10.5, 95% CI: 2.3-46.2; p = 0.002). The ultrasound assessment of hepatic venous congestion (VExUS + lung ultrasound protocol) yielded HR of 16.7 (95% CI: 3.9-70.7; p < 0.001). For all three methods combined, the overall HR was 40.1 (95% CI: 6.6-243.1; p < 0.001)., Conclusions: A combination of ultrasound diagnostic methods that include the number of B-lines, presence of hepatic venous congestion according to the VExUS protocol, and liver density according to indirect elastometry at discharge may have an independent prognostic value for patients with ADHF., (Copyright © 2024, Oman Medical Journal.)

Objectives: Flow cytometry with adenosine diphosphate (ADP) allows to characterize molecular changes of platelet function caused by this physiologically important activation, but the methodology has not been thoroughly investigated, standardized and characterized yet. We analyzed the influence of several major variables and chose optimal conditions for platelet function assessment., Methods: For activation, 2.5 μM CaCl 2 , 5 μM ADP and antibodies were added to diluted blood and incubated for 15 min. We analyzed kinetics of antibody binding and effects of their addition sequence, agonist concentration, blood dilution, exogenous calcium addition and platelet fixation., Results: We tested our protocol on 11 healthy children, 22 healthy adult volunteers, 9 patients after a month on dual antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), 7 adult patients and 14 children with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). We found that our protocol is highly sensitive to ADP stimulation with low percentage of aggregates formation. The assay is also sensitive to platelet function inhibition in post-PCI patients. Finally, platelet preactivation with ITP plasma was stronger and caused increase in activation response to ADP stimulation compared to preactivation with low dose of ADP., Conclusions: Our assay is sensitive to antiplatelet therapy and platelet preactivation in ITP patients under physiological conditions with minimal percentage of aggregates formation., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aim    To study the incidence and effect of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on clinical outcomes in patients with decompensated chronic heart failure (DCHF).Material and methods    The study included 338 patients with NYHA functional class III-IV DCHF (51.2% men, mean age 72.8±11.7 years), arterial hypertension (AH) in 90%, myocardial infarction in 37%, atrial fibrillation in 64%, chronic kidney disease (CKD) in 42%, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in 35%, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) &lt;40% in 27%. NAFLD was diagnosed based on the 2021 Clinical Guidelines of the Russian Scientific Medical Society of Therapists and the Scientific Society of Gastroenterologists of Russia. The stage of liver steatosis was determined using transient elastometry with assessment of the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) of ultrasound (S, dB/m) using a FibroScan device. Threshold CAP values &lt;294 dB/m corresponded to the degree of steatosis: S0; S1, 295-309 dB/m; S2, 310-330 dB/m; S3, ≥331 dB/m.Results    NAFLD was diagnosed in 28.9% of patients. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 included patients with CHF and NAFLD (n=98 (28.9%), 50.0% men) and group 2 included patients with CHF without NAFLD (n=240 (71.0 %), 51.6% men). A multivariate regression analysis showed that independent predictors of NAFLD were systolic blood pressure ≥130 mm Hg (odds ratio (OR), 3.700; p &lt;0.001), history of T2DM (OR, 2.807; p &lt;0.005), and waist circumference &gt;111 cm (OR, 2.530; p &lt;0.012). Patients with CAP ≥331 dB/m (S3) had a worse prognosis during the 2-year follow-up for the composite adverse outcome (all-cause mortality + readmission) (Kaplan-Meier curves - Log-Rank p=0.035).Conclusions    NAFLD was detected in almost one-third of patients hospitalized for DCHF. AH, T2DM, and abdominal obesity were associated with a high risk of NAFLD. However, only severe steatosis (S3) was an independent predictor of adverse clinical outcomes during a 2-year period after adjustment for known risk factors.

Aim    To evaluate the incidence of iron deficiency (ID) in men and women with chronic heart failure (CHF) and to compare clinical and functional indexes in patient with and without ID depending on the gender.Material and methods    An additional analysis of the study "Prevalence of Iron Deficiency in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure in the Russian Federation (ID-CHF-RF)" was performed. The study included 498 (198 women, 300 men) patients with CHF, in whom, in addition to iron metabolism, the quality of life and exercise tolerance (ET) were studied. 97 % of patients were enrolled during their stay in a hospital. ID was defined in consistency with the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines. Also, and additional analysis was performed according to ID criteria validated by the morphological picture of the bone marrow.Results    ID was detected in 174 (87.9 %) women and 239 (79.8 %) men (p=0.028) according to the ESC criteria, and in 154 (77.8 %) women and 217 (72.3 %) men (p=0.208) according to the criteria validated by the morphological picture of the bone marrow. Men with ID were older and had more severe CHF. They more frequently had HF functional class (FC) III and IV (63.4 % vs. 43.3 % in men without ID); higher concentrations of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and lower ET. HF FC III increased the probability of ID presence 3.4 times (p=0.02) and the probability of HF FC IV 13.7 times (p=0.003). This clinical picture was characteristic of men when either method of determining ID was used. In women, ID was not associated with more severe CHF.Conclusion    Based on the presented analysis, it is possible to characterize the male and female ID phenotypes. The male ID phenotype is associated with more severe CHF, low ET, and poor quality of life. In females of the study cohort, ID was not associated with either the severity of CHF or with ET.

Aim: To assess the joint prognostic value of periprocedural dynamics of the left ventricular ejection fraction (PPD of LVEF) and subclinical pulmonary congestion during lung stress ultrasound in patients with first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in relation to the development of heart failure (HF) in the postinfarction period., Materials and Methods: Our prospective, single-centre, observational study included 105 patients with a first MI with no HF in the anamnesis and successful PCI. All patients underwent standard clinical and laboratory tests, NT-proBNP level assessment, echocardiography, lung stress ultrasound with a 6-minute walk test. All patients had no clinical signs of heart failure at admission and at discharge. Criteria for PPD of LV EF: improvement in LV EF≥50%; ∆LV EF more than 5%, but LV EF<50%. According to the results of lung stress ultrasound, pulmonary congestion was diagnosed: mild (2-4 B-lines), moderate (5-9 B-lines) and severe (≥10 B-lines). The end point was hospitalization for HF for 2.5 years., Results: Upon admission, LV EF of 50% or more was registered in 45 patients (42.9%). Positive PPD was registered in 31 (29.5%) patients. After stress ultrasound of the lungs, 20 (19%) patients had mild subclinical pulmonary congestion, 38 (36%) moderate and 47 (45%) severe according to the criteria presented. During the observation period, patients with no PPD of LVEF were significantly more likely to be hospitalized for the development of HF (in 44.4% of cases) compared with patients with positive PPD (in 15.2% of cases) and with initial LV EF≥50% (in 13.4% of cases; p =0.005). When performing logistic regression analysis, the best predictive ability was found in the combination of the absence of PPD of LV EF and the sum of B-lines ≥10 on exercise (relative risk 7.45; 95% confidence interval 2.55-21.79; p <0.000)., Conclusion: Evaluation of the combination of PPD of LV EF and the results of stress lung ultrasound at discharge in patients with first AMI and successful PCI with no HF in anamnesis allows us to identify a high-risk group for the development of HF in the postinfarction period.

Aim      To determine the incidence rate and the practical significance of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) in the development of cardiovascular complications in patients with decompensated chronic heart failure (DCHF).Material and methods  This prospective, single-site observational study included 171 patients older than 18 years with NYHA functional class (FC) II-IV chronic heart failure (CHF) who were hospitalized for DCHF. Standard and extended 2D and 3D echocardiography (EchoCG) was performed for all patients on admission. Additionally, functional characteristics of the right ventricle (RV) were evaluated in the 3D mode followed by autonomic 3D processing with a EchoPac station (USA). RVD was taken as a disorder of two or more RV functional parameters according to results of 2D EchoCG, or a reduced RV free wall strain according to results of 2D speckle-tracking EchoCG, or a reduced RV ejection fraction (EF) according to results of 3D EchoCG. Statistical analysis was performed with a SPSS Statistics v. 26.0 software.Results The incidence rate of RVD in general population of patients with DCHF was 75.4 % (n=129). A higher prevalence of RVD was observed in patients with CHF with a low left ventricular (LV) EF (90.1 %). Patients with RVD had a more severe clinical status (significantly higher FC and higher Clinical Condition Scale (CCS) scores), more frequent atrial fibrillation (AF), and higher concentrations of uric acid and total bilirubin. RVD significantly correlated with male sex (odds ratio (OR), 2.05; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.01-4.19; р=0.046) and AF (OR, 3.52; 95 % CI, 1.71-7.26; р&lt;0.001). Patients with RVD had lower values of both LV and RV function. Lower LV EF and AF increased the probability of RVD by 1.06 times (95 % CI, 0.90-0.98; р=0.001) and by 2.63 times (95 % CI, 1.08-6.40; р=0.001), respectively. Evaluation of the predictive significance of RV parameters measured by 2D and 3D EchoCG showed only effects of RV EF (2D) and RV global longitudinal strain (GLS) (3D) on all-cause hospitalization. RVD as evaluated by accepted criteria did not influence adverse outcomes.Conclusion      The determined incidence, correlations, and the predictive value of RVD in patients with DCHF indicated the appropriateness of assessing the RV function to optimize the management of patients regardless of the CHF phenotype.

A qualitative change in the risk profile after an episode of decompensated heart failure (HF) calls for an as immediate as possible therapeutic response. In the absence of uniform guidelines for the sequence and timing of administering the background therapy during the hospitalization period and the subsequent "vulnerable" period, clinicians have to rely on available expert opinions and results of conducted studies. The article focuses on an evidence base for the use of background therapy for HF during the above-mentioned periods. Special attention is paid to the conditions and principles of initiating this therapy.

Aim      To study the incidence of heart failure (HF) in patients with arterial hypertension (AH), symptoms of HF, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LV EF) ≥50 % using a novel, modified HFA-PEFF diagnostic algorithm and to evaluate the liver hydration status and density depending on the established HF profiles and the prognostic significance of this algorithm.Material and methods  This study included 180 patients (median age, 72 years) with AH, symptoms of HF, and LV EF ≥50 %. The incidence of chronic HF with preserved ejection fraction (CHFpEF) was studied with the stepwise, modified HFA-PEFF diagnostic algorithm, and long-term outcomes were assessed at 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up. The hydration status was determined by a bioimpedance vector analysis, and the liver density was measured by indirect fibroelastometry. The following tests were performed for all patients: standard, general clinical and laboratory examination with evaluation of CH symptoms (including N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide test); extended echocardiography with assessment of structural and functional parameters of the heart; a KCCQ questionnaire was used for evaluation of patients' condition and quality of life (QoL). Long-term outcomes were studied by phone calls at 3, 6, and 12 months following discharge from the hospital/visit (worsened QoL, repeated hospitalization for cardiovascular causes, cardiovascular death or all-cause death).Results The following profiles were determined by the HFA-PEFF algorithm: with CHFpEF, with intermediate probability of HF, and without HF (58.9, 31.1, and 10 %, respectively). The study showed that patients with CHFpEF compared to patients of the intermediate group and without HF, had higher levels of brain natriuretic peptide, more pronounced signs of congestion according to results of the bioimpedance vector analysis and a higher liver density according to results of indirect fibroelastometry of the liver, which allowed identification of a group of patients with a high probability of CHFpEF. The diagnosis of HF by HFA-PEFF had an adverse prognostic significance with respect of worsened QoL according to the KCCQ questionnaire, and of repeated admission for HF during a year.Conclusion      In AH patients with symptoms of HF and LV EF ≥50 %, CHFpEF was detected with the HFA-PEFF algorithm in 58.9 % of cases. Patients with AH and verified CHFpEF had a high incidence of hyperhydration and increased liver density. A diagnosis of CHFpEF by the HFA-PEFF algorithm had an adverse prognostic significance with respect of long-term outcomes.

Background: If infective endocarditis (IE) is suspected, the determination of the etiology is of fundamental importance for the verification of the disease and the appointment of effective therapy. Microbiological diagnostic features are important, but they often need to be supplemented by culture-independent studies of pathological agents., Aim: To investigate of the diagnostic advantage and value of quantitative analysis of molecular biological methods (polymerase chain reaction - PCR, sequencing) in addition to microbiological examination of whole venous blood in IE., Materials and Methods: We examined 124 patients with suspected or significant IE (DUKE 2015) hospitalized in the Vinogradov City Clinical Hospital (2015-2021). All patients underwent parallel microbiological (cultural) and molecular biological (PCR or PCR followed by sequencing) examination of venous whole blood samples., Results: The introduction of an early parallel PCR study into the algorithm for the etiological diagnosis of IE made it possible to obtain an additional advantage in 43/124 (34.7%) patients, which made it possible to exclude unreliable results in the determination of CoNS skin commensals and pathogens atypical for IE or contamination and identify the true pathogens, and also for the first time to isolate the etiopathogenetic pathogen with a negative microbiological study. It was shown that in IE associated with CoNS, the association with the disease was confirmed by PCR in 21.4% (3/14) and refuted in 71.4% (10/14). The coincidence of the results of microbiological and PCR studies of blood samples was obtained only in 35/95 (36.8%). Positive results of PCR analysis of blood of biological material with negative results of culture were obtained in 22/51 (43.1%), of which 2/22 (9.0%) were able to confirm the presence of Bartonella spp DNA. The presented complex algorithm made it possible to significantly increase the possibility of intravital identification of the pathogen in the blood from 58.9 to 76.6%. IE with unknown etiology was present in 29/124 (23.4%) patients. A parallel PCR study allowed timely correction of antibiotic therapy in 43/124 (34.7%) patients., Conclusion: Expansion of indications for the use of PCR studies, primarily whole venous blood samples, is justified, not only in IE with negative results of microbiological examination, but also as a control method for the reliability of the results of traditional (cultural) diagnostic methods.

For the recent 20 years, substantial changes have occurred in all aspects of infectious endocarditis (IE), the evolution of risk factors, modernization of diagnostic methods, therapeutic and preventive approaches. The global trends are characterized by increased IE morbidity among people older than 65 who use intravenous psychoactive drugs. The epidemiological trend is represented by reduced roles of chronic rheumatic heart disease and congenital heart defects, increased proportion of IE associated with medical care, valve replacement, installation of intracardiac devices, and increased contribution of Staphylococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. to the IE etiology. Additional visualization methods (fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with 18F-fludesoxyglucose (18F-FDG PET-CT), labeled white blood cell single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and modernization of the etiological diagnostic algorithm for determining the true pathogen (immunochemistry, polymerase chain reaction, sequencing) also become increasingly important. The COVID-19 pandemic has also adversely contributed to the IE epidemiology. New prospects of treatment have emerged, such as bacteriophages, lysins, oral antibacterial therapy, minimally invasive surgical strategies (percutaneous mechanical aspiration), endovascular mechanical embolectomy. The physicians' compliance with clinical guidelines (CG) is low, which contributes to the high rate of adverse outcomes of IE, while simple adherence to the CG together with more frequent use of surgical treatment doubles survival. Systematic adherence to CG, timely prevention and implementation of the Endocarditis Team into practice play the decisive role in a favorable prognosis of dynamically changing IE. This article presents the authors' own data that confirm the evolutionary trends of current IE.

Aim      To determine the clinical and prognostic significance of subclinical pulmonary congestion, as evaluated by stress ultrasound (stress-US) examination of the lungs, in the development of heart failure (HF) during the postinfarction period after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Material and methods  This prospective observational study included 103 patients with no history of HF and with the first AMI and successful PCI. Standard laboratory tests, including the measurement of NT-proBNP, echocardiography, stress-US of the lungs with a 6-min walk test (6MWT), were performed for all patients. Pulmonary congestion was diagnosed with the total number of B lines ≥2 during stress: mild (2-4 B lines), moderate (5-9 B lines), and severe (≥10 В lines). Subclinical pulmonary congestion implied the absence of clinical signs of congestion in the presence of ultrasonic signs of pulmonary congestion (&gt;2 В lines) during stress. The phenomenon of "wet" lung was identified when the total number of B lines was &lt;2 at rest ("dry" lung) and ≥2 after stress. When the total number of B lines was &gt;2 at rest ("wet" lung at rest) and ≥2 after stress, the phenotype was identified as "very wet" lung. The endpoint was hospitalization for HF during 1.5 years.Results The study showed a high incidence of subclinical pulmonary congestion as determined by the results of stress-US test of the lungs, mild (18.4 %), moderate (37.9 %) and severe (42.7 %), and of "wet" and "very wet" lung phenotypes (65 %). The "wet/very wet" lung phenotypes correlated with the body weight index (R=0.236; p=0.016), troponin concentration upon admission and at 6-12 h (R=0.231; p=0019 and R=0.212; p=0.033, respectively), NT-proBNP concentration (R=0.276; p=0.035), Е peak (R=0.241; p=0.019), global longitudinal strain (GLS) (R=-0.208; p=0.034), and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (R=0.351; p=0.0004). The higher probability of hospitalization for HF during 1.5 years after the discharge from the hospital correlated with a LV EF ≤48 % (OR, 4.04; 95 % CI: 1.49-10.9; р=0.006), a post-stress total number of B lines ≥10 (OR, 3.10; 95 % CI: 1.06-9.52; р=0.038), a pulmonary artery systolic pressure &gt;27 mm Hg (OR, 3.7; 95 % CI: 1.42-9.61; р=0.007).Conclusion      Stress-US of the lungs with evaluation of the total number of B lines should be performed for patients after the first AMI and PCI and with no clinical signs of congestion, for stratification of the risk for HF in the postinfarction period.

Aim: To compare the frequency of iron deficiency (ID) in patients with decompensated heart failure (HF), defined by international guideline criterion ferritin 100 ng/ml or ferritin from 100 to 299 ng/ml with TSAT20% (criterion A) and by bone marrow biopsy criterion TSAT19.8% and serum iron 13 mol/l (criterion B); to evaluate the effect of ID, diagnosed on the basis of different ID criteria, on NT pro-BNP, sST2, CRP levels and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classes (FC) distribution between groups with ID and without ID., Materials and Methods: The study included 223 patients (median age 73 [65; 82] years, 58% males) who were hospitalized to V.V. Vinogradov Moscow City Clinical Hospital No. 64 with decompensated HF. All patients underwent a standard physiological examination, laboratory and instrumental studies, including determination of NT-proBNP, sST2, CRP, and ferrokinetic parameters (serum iron, transferrin, ferritin). TSAT was calculated as: serum iron / transferrin 3.98. NYHA FC was determined according to Heart Failure Severity Rating Scale score. All patients underwent echocardiography to assess the ejection fraction of the left ventricle., Results: According to criterion A ID was detected in 89% (n=199) of patients. There were no significant differences between levels of CRP, NT-proBNP and sST2. According to criterion B ID was detected in 70% (n=156) of patients. In the ID group, higher levels of CRP (15.1 mg/l vs 6.2 mg/l, p0.001), NT-proBNP (5422 pg/ml vs 2380 pg/ml, p0.001) and sST2 (59.6 ng/ml vs 42 ng/ml, p=0.02) were detected. Intravenous FCM admission according to current international guidelines (diagnosis of ID according to criterion A) is recommended to 57% of patients included in this study. Both methods formed groups with ID, in which patients had higher NYHA FC compared to groups without ID. According to current clinical guidelines, iron deficiency should be assessed according to method 1. More than half of patients (57, n=127) have indications for intravenous FCM to reduce risk of HF hospitalizations., Conclusion: The frequency of ID in patients with decompensated heart failure varies from 70 to 89% depending on the criterion used to diagnose ID, but in any case, remains high. Intravenous FCM should be prescribed in 57% (n=127) of patients. Criterion B, validated against the gold standard of diagnostics, unlike criterion A, makes it possible to form groups of patients with ID and without ID, significantly differing in CRP, NT-proBNP, and sST2 levels.

Aim    To evaluate the prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) in Russian patients with heart failure (HF).Material and methods    Iron metabolism variables were studied in 498 (198 women, 300 men) patients with HF. Data were evaluated at admission for HF (97 %) or during an outpatient visit (3 %). ID was determined according to the European Society of Cardiology Guidelines.Results    83.1 % of patients had ID; only 43.5 % of patients with ID had anemia. Patients with ID were older: 70.0 [63.0;79.0] vs. 66.0 years [57.0;75.2] (p=0.009). The number of patients with ID increased in parallel with the increase in HF functional class (FC). Among patients with ID, fewer people were past or current alcohol users (p=0.002), and a greater number of patients had atrial fibrillation (60.1 vs. 45.2 %, p=0.016). A multiple logistic regression showed that more severe HF (HF FC) was associated with a higher incidence of ID detection, whereas past alcohol use was associated with less pronounced ID. An increase in N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) by 100 pg/ml was associated with an increased likelihood of ID (odds ratio, 1.006, 95 % confidence interval: 1.002-1.011, p=0.0152).Conclusion    The incidence rate of HF patients is high in the Russian Federation (83.1 %). Only 43.5 % of these patients had anemia. The prevalence of ID in the study population increased with increases in HF FC and NT-proBNP.

Background: This study evaluated the effectiveness of treatment with an indapamide/amlodipine single-pill combination (SPC) in outpatients with uncontrolled isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) aged over 55 years in real-life clinical practice., Methods: This was a post-hoc analysis of the subgroup of patients with ISH from ARBALET, a 3-month, multicenter, observational, open-label study conducted in Russia among patients with grade I or II hypertension who were either uncontrolled on previous antihypertensive treatment or treatment-naïve. The effectiveness of indapamide/amlodipine SPC was assessed by the change in office systolic blood pressure (SBP) and the rate of target SBP (< 140 mmHg) achievement at 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months, in four age groups: 55-59 years, 60-69 years, 70-79 years, and 80 years or older., Results: The ARBALET study recruited 2217 patients, of whom 626 had ISH and were included in this post-hoc analysis (mean age 66.1 ± 7.8 years; 165 men [26.4%] and 461 women [73.6%]). Target SBP < 140 mmHg was achieved in 43%, 75% and 93% of patients at 2 weeks, 1 and 3 months, respectively. SBP decreased from baseline by 18.8 ± 10.5 mmHg, 27.2 ± 10.6 mmHg and 31.8 ± 9.9 mmHg at 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months, respectively. In the groups of patients aged 55-59, 60-69, 70-79, and ≥ 80 years, SBP reductions at 3 months compared with baseline were - 30.3 ± 9.4, - 32.4 ± 9.7, - 32.5 ± 10.7, and - 28.9 ± 9.6 mmHg, respectively., Conclusion: This post-hoc analysis of the observational ARBALET study showed that indapamide/amlodipine SPC was associated with significant reductions in BP and high rates of target BP achievement in a broad age range of patients with ISH treated in routine clinical practice., Study Registration Number: ISRCTN40812831., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Coagulation system is heavily involved into the process of infective endocarditis (IE) vegetation formation and can facilitate further embolization. In this study we aimed to assess the coagulation and platelet state in IE implementing a wide range of standard and global laboratory assays. We also aim to determine whether prothrombotic genetic polymorphisms play any role in embolization and mortality in IE patients., Methods: 37 patients with IE were enrolled into the study. Coagulation was assessed using standard coagulation assays (activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin, fibrinogen, D-dimer concentrations) and integral assays (thromboelastography (TEG) and thrombodynamics (TD)). Platelet functional activity was estimated by flow cytometry. Single nuclear polymorphisms of coagulation system genes were studied., Results: Fibrinogen concentration and fibrinogen-dependent parameters of TEG and TD were increased in patients indicating systemic inflammation. In majority of patients clot growth rate in thrombodynamics was significantly shifted towards hypercoagulation in consistency with D-dimers elevation. However, in some patients prothrombin, thromboelastography and thrombodynamics were shifted towards hypocoagulation. Resting platelets were characterized by glycoprotein IIb-IIIa activation and degranulation. In patients with fatal IE, we observed a significant decrease in fibrinogen and thrombodynamics. In patients with embolism, we observed a significant decrease in the TEG R parameter. No association of embolism or mortality with genetic polymorphisms was found in our cohort., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that coagulation in patients with infective endocarditis is characterized by general hypercoagulability and platelet pre-activation. Some patients, however, have hypocoagulant coagulation profile, which presumably can indicate progressing of hypercoagulation into consumption coagulopathy., Competing Interests: We disclose a conflict of interest for Prof. Fazoil Ataullakhanov, who is a co-founder of HemaCore LLC, which holds several patents and patent applications that are related to the diagnostic use of spatial clot growth and which has developed the assay under the trade name of Thrombodynamics® (Ataullakhanov FI, international patent applications PCT/CH2007/000543 filing date 02.11.2007 and РСТ/RU2012/000570 filing date 16.07.2012). This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

This document is a consensus document of Russian Specialists in Heart Failure, Russian Society of Cardiology, Russian Association of Specialists in Ultrasound Diagnostics in Medicine and Russian Society for the Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases. In the document a definition of focus ultrasound is stated and discussed when it can be used in cardiology practice in Russian Federation.

Background: Despite the poor prognosis in patients with type 2 myocardial infarction (MI), no prospective data on risk stratification exists. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a model for prediction of 18-month mortality of among patients with type 2 MI (T2MI) and compare its performance with GRACE and TARRACO scores., Methods: The prospective observational study included 712 consecutive patients diagnosed with MI undergoing coronary angiography <24 h between January 2017 and December 2018. Diagnosis of T2MI was adjusted according to Third universal definition. A prognostic model was developed by using Bayesian approach and logistic regression analysis with identifying predictors for mortality. The model was validated by bootstrap validation. Comparison performance between scores using Delong test., Results: T2MI was identified in 174 (24.4%) patients. The median age of patients was 69 years, 52% were female. The mortality rate was 20.1% at 18 months. Prior MI, presence of ST elevation, hemoglobin level at admission, Charlson comorbidity index and were independently associated with 18-month mortality. The model to predict 18-month mortality showed excellent discrimination (optimism corrected c-statistic = 0.822) and calibration (corrected slope = 0.893). GRACE and TARRACO scores had moderate discrimination [c-statistic = 0.748 (95% CI 0.652-0.843) and 0.741, 95% CI 0.669-0.805), respectively] and inferior compared with model (p = 0.043 and 0.037, respectively)., Conclusions: The risk of mortality among T2MI patients could be accurately predicted by using common clinical characteristics and laboratory tests. Further studies are required with external validation of nomogram prior to clinical implementation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)