{"title":"Letter to the editor: Comments on gender differences in acute heart failure study","authors":"Çağrı Zorlu, Sefa Erdi Ömür","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200477","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200477","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":29726,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 200477"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144704542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Can psychological interventions affect cardiac rehabilitation patients’ well-being? Preliminary results from a longitudinal study","authors":"Elisa Zambetti , Maura Crepaldi , Fiorella Lanfranchi , Emanuela Zenoni , Irene Bariletti , Francesco Quarenghi , Luigina Viscardi , Ginevra Rizzola , Valentina Regazzoni , Alessandra Bigoni , Francesca Brivio , Irma Maria Soddu , Massimiliano Anselmi Kaiser , Vittorio Giudici , Andrea Greco","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200474","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200474","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Research has explored the link between psychological factors and cardiovascular diseases [CVDs], with a focus on identifying predictors of these disorders. Cardiac Rehabilitation [CR] is crucial for heart disease patients, particularly those with psychological comorbidities, as it helps in self-care and understanding their condition. This study aims to compare the psychological health of CVD patients – in terms of anxiety, depression, and illness perception – before (baseline, T0) and after (over time, T1) multidisciplinary cardiac rehabilitation treatment, considering the effects of different psychological interventions (psychoeducational group, progressive muscle relaxation training, and individual counseling).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 181 patients with acute coronary syndrome [ACS], cardiac decompensation [CD], or cardiac surgery [CS], participated in a rehabilitation program between January and August 2023. Self-report questionnaires were used to investigate levels of anxiety, depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and illness perception (Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire) at T0 and T1.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Statistically significant changes were found over time. Individual counseling led to significant reductions in depression and anxiety, and improved illness perception. Anxiety levels were also influenced by the type of cardiovascular disease and by the presence or absence of physical comorbidity.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The study highlights significant improvements in levels of anxiety, depression, and illness perception from T0 to T1. Individual counseling is the most high-impact psychological intervention. These findings show the importance of psychological interventions in enhancing CVD patients’ psychological and physical well-being.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29726,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 200474"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144687231","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jonathan Mokhtar , Mohammad Albaree , Virginia Battistin , Mohamed Asbaita , Fatemeh Akbarpoor , Jeyaseelan Lakshmanan , Hassan El-Tamimi
{"title":"Inadequacy of coronary calcium scoring in evaluating coronary artery disease: A call to shifting to high-resolution CT coronary imaging","authors":"Jonathan Mokhtar , Mohammad Albaree , Virginia Battistin , Mohamed Asbaita , Fatemeh Akbarpoor , Jeyaseelan Lakshmanan , Hassan El-Tamimi","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200476","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200476","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and aims</h3><div>Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring is an increasingly adopted, non-invasive modality for assessing coronary artery disease (CAD). However, its diagnostic reliability in comparison to invasive coronary angiography (ICA) remains controversial. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of CAC scoring in predicting CAD using ICA as the reference.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Adults who underwent both coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) with CAC scoring and ICA within a three-month interval were retrospectively analyzed between 2018 and 2024. Obstructive CAD was defined as ≥ 50% stenosis on ICA. Patients were stratified by CAC scores: 0 (group 1), 1–399 (group 2), and ≥400 (group 3). Chi-square analysis was utilized to assess the differences in CAC scores compared to ICA. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of CAC against ICA were all calculated using R version 4.4.0.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among 110 patients (mean age 53 ± 10; 86.4% males), obstructive CAD was found in 25% of patients in group 1, 56% of patients in group 2, and 79% of patients in group 3 (χ<sup>2</sup> = 14.21, <em>p</em> < 0.001). CAC demonstrated a sensitivity of 91.2%, specificity of 63.2%, a PPV of 92.2%, and an NPV of 60%.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>While a CAC score of 400 or higher strongly predicts significant CAD, scores of zero or intermediate values fail to exclude obstructive disease reliably. These findings reaffirm that CAC scoring is a useful stratification tool but should be interpreted with caution, particularly in high-risk patients, and confirmed with ICA when appropriate.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29726,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 200476"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144670839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Elevated serum glutathione peroxidase levels reducing the risk of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding combined with acute coronary syndrome: Evidence from observational, interventional, and Mendelian randomization studies","authors":"Weibo Zhang, Hailing Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200471","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200471","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (UGIH) combined with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) poses a significant clinical challenge linked to oxidative stress, while elevated serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels may provide a protective effect.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A two-phase study was conducted. First, Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using three GSH-Px-associated SNPs (rs6993770, rs1097234, rs4149991) was performed to assess causality between genetically predicted GSH-Px activity and UGIH-ACS risk, leveraging public GWAS data. Second, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (RCT) enrolled UGIH-ACS patients (n = 110) to received oral selenium (200 μg/day) or placebo for 8 weeks. Comparisons were made with a UGIH-only control group (n = 78) and healthy controls (n = 83). Serum GSH-Px levels, 90-day mortality, rebleeding rates, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were analyzed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>MR analysis showed no significant causal link between GSH-Px activity and UGIH-ACS risk (IVW OR: 0.966, 95 % CI: 0.873–1.069, p = 0.502), but the weighted median method suggested a marginal protective trend (OR: 0.958, 95 % CI: 0.918–1.000, p = 0.048). Sensitivity analyses confirmed robust estimates with low heterogeneity. In the RCT, selenium supplementation significantly increased GSH-Px levels (+51.9 % vs. +6.0 %, p < 0.001), reduced 90-day rebleeding (12.0 % vs. 22.7 %, p = 0.014), and lowered MACE risk (9.1 % vs. 21.8 %, p = 0.042).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>While MR analysis found no strong causal link between GSH-Px activity and UGIH-ACS risk, the weighted median method indicated a marginal protective trend, underscoring GSH-Px's role in oxidative stress modulation. Selenium supplementation significantly increased GSH-Px activity (+51.9 %, p < 0.001), reduced rebleeding, and lowered MACE risk, supporting its potential as adjunctive therapy for UGIH-ACS and warranting further investigation into additional mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29726,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 200471"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144633202","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Risk factors of acute coronary syndrome among patients admitted to cardiac care units at governmental hospitals in the Gaza Strip: Case- control study","authors":"Tareq Khattab , Yousef Aljeesh","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200466","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200466","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Acute coronary syndrome represents a major global health issue. The aim of the study was to identify the risk factors related to acute coronary syndrome among patients admitted to cardiac care units in governmental hospitals in the Gaza Strip.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>An analytical case-control study was conducted from February to September 2023, involving 300 participants (100 cases and 200 controls) selected by quota sampling from governmental hospitals in the Gaza Strip. The data were collected using structured interviews and questionnaires. Reliability testing by Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.87) and statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25.</div></div><div><h3>Result</h3><div>Among the participants, 78 % were male while 22 % were female. 30 % fell into the age group of 56–60 years, and 34 % received treatment at Al Shifa Medical Complex. The logistic regression analysis revealed several significant risk factors associated with acute coronary syndrome. These included lower income (OR = 2.32, 95 % CI: 1.36–3.94, p = 0.002) and family history of acute coronary syndrome (OR = 5.46, 95 % CI: 3.24–9.19, p < 0.001). smoking (OR = 4.38, 95 % CI: 2.62–7.34, p < 0.001). A history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, atrial fibrillation, and NSAID drug use is associated with acute coronary syndrome, overweight (OR = 2.86, 95 % CI: 1.58–5.19, p = 0.001), obesity (OR = 6.74, 95 % CI: 3.30–13.78, p < 0.001), higher waist-to-height ratio (OR = 3.75, 95 % CI: 1.62–8.66, p = 0.002), and waist-to-hip ratio (OR = 5.07, 95 % CI: 2.64–9.71, p < 0.001).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study highlights lower income and familial predisposition as critical acute coronary syndrome predictors in Gaza, alongside traditional risks like obesity and smoking. Implementing strategies to control these risk factors and improve preventive measures is crucial for reducing the incidence of acute coronary syndrome.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29726,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 200466"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144655169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Associations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and hemoglobin A1C with cardiovascular events and mortality in breast and prostate cancer patients","authors":"Yen-Chou Chen , Jhih-Yuan Lu , Chun-Yao Huang , Yu-Hsuan Joni Shao","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200468","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200468","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Cardiovascular disease is a major non-cancer cause of morbidity in cancer patients. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) are shared risk factors for cancer and cardiovascular disease. However, optimal management for these factors in cancer patients remains unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This retrospective cohort study investigated associations between LDL and HbA1C levels with major cardiovascular events, all-cause mortality, and cancer recurrence in patients with breast and prostate cancer. The analysis included 832 breast cancer and 593 prostate cancer patients from the Taipei Medical University Clinical Research Database (2011–2020), using Cox proportional hazard models with time-dependent covariates. The findings were validated using the TriNetX research network, using a propensity score matching method.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Elevated LDL levels (≥130 mg/dL) were associated with a higher risk of major cardiovascular events, particularly in prostate cancer patients. A U-shaped association was observed between LDL levels and all-cause mortality, with the lowest risk in the 100–129 mg/dL range (propensity score matching risk ratios for all-cause mortality with LDL ≥130 mg/dL: 1.05 [95 % confidence interval 1.02–1.09] for breast cancer and 1.08 [95 % confidence interval 1.04–1.12] for prostate cancer). Elevated levels of HbA1C (≥6 %) were also associated with increased risks of cardiovascular events, with a potential U-shaped association with mortality.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Higher levels of LDL and HbA1C are associated with increased risks of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in breast and prostate cancer patients, supporting current cardio-oncologic guidelines in cancer survivors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29726,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 200468"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144623665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prognostic impact of angiography-derived index of microcirculatory resistance in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy","authors":"Takayuki Kawamura, Koichiro Matsumura, Haruka Minami, Nobuhiro Yamada, Shohei Hakozaki, Yohei Funauchi, Naoko Soejima, Mana Okune, Kazuyoshi Kakehi, Masafumi Ueno, Gaku Nakazawa","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200467","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200467","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) has recently been associated with adverse cardiovascular events in patients with heart failure. We investigated the relationship between late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and CMD, as well as the prognostic value of CMD in predicting long-term prognosis in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Patients with DCM who underwent both cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and coronary angiography were consecutively enrolled. CMD was evaluated using the angiography-derived index of microcirculatory resistance (angio-IMR). The primary endpoint was composite endpoints of all-cause mortality or heart failure hospitalization within 3 years.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among 108 patients (median age, 64 years; women, 27 %), 18 % (19 patients) experienced composite endpoints. The median angio-IMR was 45 U, and LGE was identified in 23 %. Angio-IMR was significantly higher in patients with LGE than in those without LGE. When patients were stratified based on the combined presence of LGE and angio-IMR, significant differences in composite endpoints were observed among the three groups (LGE absence and low angio-IMR: 4.3 % vs. LGE presence or high angio-IMR: 22.2 % vs. LGE presence and high angio-IMR: 41.2 %, log-rank test p < 0.01). In multivariable Cox proportional hazards model for composite endpoints, LGE presence and angio-IMR >45 U was an independent predictor: hazards ratio 12.20, 95 % confidence interval 2.40–62.10, p = 0.001.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>CMD evaluated using angio-IMR was associated with LGE and long-term prognosis in patients with DCM. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the relationship among CMD, LGE, and prognosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29726,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 200467"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144605215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mislabelling, misclassification, misinterpretation: A critical appraisal of mortality trends in Alzheimer's and ischemic heart disease","authors":"Hammad Jehangir","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200464","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200464","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":29726,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 200464"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144670354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Joachim Amoako , Matthan Fayia Saa , Emmanuel Bannerman-Williams , Anastasia Naa Koshie Bruce , Maame Boatemaa Ansong , Alexander Danquah , Abraham Ablorh , Wills Nii Adjetey Kwaw , Michael Adjei , Emmanuel K. Awuttey , Isabella D. Dakubo , Patience Akos Vormatu , Isaac Ekow Ennin , Charles Frederick Hayfron-Benjamin
{"title":"Peripheral artery disease In West Africans with diabetes: a risk factor profile analysis","authors":"Joachim Amoako , Matthan Fayia Saa , Emmanuel Bannerman-Williams , Anastasia Naa Koshie Bruce , Maame Boatemaa Ansong , Alexander Danquah , Abraham Ablorh , Wills Nii Adjetey Kwaw , Michael Adjei , Emmanuel K. Awuttey , Isabella D. Dakubo , Patience Akos Vormatu , Isaac Ekow Ennin , Charles Frederick Hayfron-Benjamin","doi":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200469","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200469","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Globally, peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects >200 million people, disproportionately affecting people with diabetes. Prior studies characterizing the risk profile of PAD in diabetes have excluded West Africans, whose vascular biology is relevantly different. This study characterized the aggregate effect of modifiable risk factors on PAD in West Africans with diabetes.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This was a cross-sectional study among 803 Ghanaian adults with diabetes. PAD was defined as ankle-brachial pressure index ≤0.90 and/or intermittent claudication. A multivariate logistic regression model was built to identify modifiable PAD risk factors, which were used to define the number of risk factors for each participant. The odds of PAD were determined based on the number of modifiable risk factors.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The mean age, diabetes duration, and HbA<sub>1</sub>c concentrations were 59.81(±9.95) years, 13.66(±7.89) years, and 8.45(±1.94) %, respectively. PAD prevalence was 25.8 %. In a multivariable regression model, hypertension [odds ratio 2.00, 95 % confidence interval 1.33–3.01], chronic kidney disease [1.54(1.11–2.14)], central obesity [1.58(1.05–2.39)], and elevated LDL-cholesterol concentration [1.42(1.02–1.97)] were independently associated with PAD. After adjustment for age, sex, and diabetes duration, the odds of PAD increased with each additional risk factor from a 2.02-fold increase [OR 2.02, 95 %CI 0.69–5.97) in the presence of two risk factors, to 3.51-fold [3.51(1.20–10.24)] for three risk factors, and nearly five-fold [4.80 (1.57–14.67)] for four risk factors.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>West Africans with diabetes are very sensitive to the cumulative effect of hypertension, chronic kidney disease, central obesity, and elevated LDL cholesterol concentration for PAD. These findings provide data to guide PAD screening/treatment strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29726,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 200469"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144623664","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}