Aim. To determine whether the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) level corresponds to the coronary artery calcium (CAC) score (Agatston score).

Material and methods. The study included 212 people aged 40-65 years (mean age, 56,5±7,9 years). The number of men and women was 54 (25,5%) and 158 (74,5%), respectively.

Results. According to the SCORE, the groups were distributed as follows: 62 (29,2%) — low risk, 128 (60,4%) — moderate risk, 16 (7,5%) — high risk, 6 (2,8%) — very high risk. The average SCORE level for the general group was 2,5±2,4%. According to the Agatston score, the groups were distributed as follows: minimal risk (0-10) — 142 (67%) people, low risk (11-100) — 42 (19,8%) people, moderate risk (101-400) — 17 (8%) people, high risk (≥401) — 7 (3,3%) people. Inconsistencies for all categories of cardiovascular risk were revealed between SCORE and Agatston score.

Conclusion. The identified inconsistencies in the distribution of risk groups in accordance with the SCORE and Agatston score indicate that the SCORE scale is insufficiently informative. Multislice computed tomography coronary angiography with CAC calculation is additionally recommended, which will allow determining patient management and deciding on therapy. A comparative analysis of CAC score and the SCORE scale can help optimize, first of all, drug therapy for patients with hypertension and lipid metabolism disorders.

Aim. To identify factors determining the prognosis after elective myocardial revascularization in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) with multifocal atherosclerosis (MFA).

Material and methods. The study is based on the prospective registry REGATA-1, ClinicalTrials NCT04347200 (1500 patients with stable coronary artery disease; men, 78,6%, age, 65±8,7 years). We selected 238 patients with MFA, the criteria of which were multivessel CAD (at least 2 arteries) in combination with stenosis ≥50% of at least one of the peripheral vascular system. The selection criteria was elective myocardial revascularization followed by dual antiplatelet therapy for at least 6-12 months. Unfavorable outcomes were analyzed, namely thrombotic events (TEs) in any vascular system and bleeding (BARC type 2-5).

Results. The median follow-up was 859 days (interquartile range [523;1665]). Thrombosis dominated in the structure of events: the total incidence of TEs was 18,5% (including fatal — 4,2%), and the total incidence of bleeding was 7,5% (including BARC type 3 — 1,7%). Predictors of TE were smoking (hazard ratio (HR)=2,18), myocardial infarction (HR=2,6) and ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack (HR=2,81) more than a year ago, as well as revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus coronary artery bypass grafting. For PCI, the prognosis was worse in case of incomplete revascularization, as well as when the intervention was limited to ≤2 arterial segments and the total length of stents <26 mm. Among all predictors of poor prognosis, the most significant was high-risk PCI in combination with dual antiplatelet therapy for <12 months (HR=6,7).

Conclusion. For the first time, TE predictors in patients with CAD and MFA have been identified, which will improve secondary prevention in a category of patients with an extremely high risk of TEs.

Aim. To study the relationship between blood homocysteine levels and genetic and epigenetic factors and assess the possibility of correcting homocysteine levels using products enriched with methylated forms of B vitamin.

Material and methods. The study included 20 people (6 men and 14 women) aged 24-67 years (mean age — 41,5 years). Muscleto-fat ratio was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis. The plasma concentration of homocysteine was measured using an immunochemistry analyser. Polymorphism analysis of folate cycle genes was performed using polymerase chain reaction. Statistical processing of the material, training and data prediction was performed using artificial neural networks (ANNs). Homocysteine levels before a 3-month consumption of fortified products are presented as Hc₁, after — Hc_2.

Results. The blood level of homocysteine before taking fortified fruitberry bars varied from 6,5 to 24,2 µmol/l, averaging 12,45±2,9 µmol/l. After 3 months of use, the blood homocysteine level decreased to the range of 7,1-18 µmol/l and, on average, amounted to 10,87±2,6 µmol/l (p=0,028). Hyperhomocysteinemia was detected in two women (19,7 and 24,2 µmol/l) and one man (17,1 µmol/l). After consuming fruitberry bars, a significant decrease in blood homocysteine levels was observed from 19,7 to 14,3 µmol/l, from 24,2 to 14,1 µmol/l and from 17,1 to 15,5 µmol/l, respectively. A significant average correlation was revealed between Hc1 and Hc2 (r=0,579; p<1×10-5). Correlations were noted between blood homocysteine levels and body mass index, as well as responses about elevated blood glucose levels and the frequency of desire to reduce body weight (p<6,74×10^-5).

Conclusion. The results demonstrate a significant decrease in blood homocysteine in all participants when taking food products fortified with methylated forms of B vitamin (p=0,028). Individuals adhering to dietary restrictions showed a more pronounced decrease in homocysteine levels (p<6,74×10^-5).

Aim. To identify the characteristic features of patients after ischemic stroke (IS), probably associated with spontaneous dissection of the extracranial sections of carotid and vertebral arteries, and compare such patients with persons with IS of other genesis.
Material and methods. The comparison group without signs of dissection included 1326 patients who had IS. The main group of patients with signs of dissection included 122 people aged 54,46±14,68 (21-84) years, 48 (39,3%) women and 74 (60,7%) men, among whom 106 people had IS. The dissection was determined by computed tomographic angiography and/or magnetic resonance angiography and/or duplex ultrasound.
Results. Patients with dissection were significantly younger than those without it (p<0,001) and had a lower body mass index (BMI) (p<0,001). There was no relationship between the dissection location and sex and age (p>0,05). In the group with the same location of the infarction and dissection, adjusted for age, vertebrobasilar system involvement were more common (p=0,033), while the proportion of men was significantly higher (p=0,021), and the patients were significantly younger (p=0,027).
Conclusion. Patients with dissection of the carotid and/or vertebral arteries were significantly younger than those without it. We found that in patients with dissection, BMI was significantly lower and depended on age, while in patients without dissections, BMI did not depend on age. A number of differences were identified in the group of patients with stroke likely associated with dissection, in comparison with those with strokes of another genesis.

Aim. To study the changes of clinical and echocardiographic parameters in people without cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) within a year after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) depending on the obesity presence.

Material and methods. During the year after COVID-19 pneumonia, the clinical and echocardiographic parameters of 21 patients with obesity and without CVD were compared. The group both without CVDs and obesity consisted of 52 patients comparable by sex and age.

Results. Newly developed CVDs were registered in 55% and 17% of the group with and without obesity, respectively. Left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain 3 months (-18,4±2,3 vs -20,6±2,2%, p=0,010) and one year after COVID-19 pneumonia (-18,8±1,8 vs -20,8±2,5%, p=0,021) was lower in the group with obesity. Lateral (e' later) (10,8±3,3 vs 13,1±2,9 cm/s (p=0,007)) and septal (e' sept) (8,5±2,7 vs 10,1±2,0 cm/s (p=0,011)) early diastolic mitral annulus velocity, as well as the ratio of early and late diastolic LV filling (E/A) (1,1±0,3 vs 1,2±0,3 (p=0,019)) at the end of the follow-up were lower in the group with obesity.

Conclusion. In people without CVDs during a year after COVID-19 pneumonia, a high prevalence of newly developed CVD was noted in 55% and in 17% of people with and without obesity, which was accompanied by worse LV systolic and diastolic function in the group with obesity.

Aim. To compare heart rate variability parameters in patients after a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) during the inhospital and post-hospital periods.

Material and methods. A total of 140 patients with STEMI were divided into 2 groups: I — patients with STEMI who had COVID-19 (n=52) in the period of 1,5-6 months before acute coronary syndrome, II — comparison group (n=88), which included patients with STEMI without prior COVID-19. All patients underwent infarct-related artery stenting within the first 24 hours from the onset. Heart rate variability (HRV) parameters were determined for all patients on days 2-3 and days 9-11 and 6 months after the hospitalization for STEMI.

Results. Patients in group I showed more pronounced changes in HRV indicators on days 2-3 of STEMI: RMSSD (root square of successive RR intervals) by 21% (p=0,026), variations (Var) (the difference between the minimum and maximum RR intervals) by 33% (p=0,013), VLF (total very low-frequency HRV) by 7% (p=0,009) were higher, and HF (highfrequency HRV) by 40% (p=0,003), pNN50% (ratio of the number of consecutive RR interval pairs differing by >50 ms to the total number of RR intervals) by 66% (p=0,038) were lower than in the control group, respectively. On days 9-11 of the disease in patients with a history of STEMI and COVID-19, in contrast to the control group, there was a more pronounced increase in the SDNN (standard deviation of RR intervals) by 46% (p=0,005), VLF by 42% (p=0,031), whereas in the control group there were an increase of only 22% (p=0,004) and 11% (p=0,022), respectively. The HF value in the main group increased by 25% (p=0,007), while in the control group it decreased by 19% (p=0,030). Six months after STEMI in the main group, the RMSSD decreased by 19% (p=0,009), Var by 16% (p=0,041), VLF by 30% (p=0,025), LF (low-frequency component HRV) by 11% (p=0,005), while the control group these parameters decreased by 20% (p=0,006), 21% (p=0,001), 9% (p=0,011), and 7% (p=0,016), respectively.

Conclusion. In patients with STEMI and prior COVID-19, the initial HRV values differ from similar HRV parameters in patients with STEMI without prior COVID-19. In the hospital and post-hospital periods, the changes of HRV in patients with and without COVID-19 are multidirectional as follows: pronounced sympathetic hyperactivity predominates, and slower recovery of HRV in patients after COVID-19 predominates.

Aim. To evaluate 24-hour blood pressure (BP) profile and systemic inflammation in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) depending on the presence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Material and methods. This cross-sectional cohort study included 132 patients with CAD aged 62,3±6,9 years. Depending on OSA, all patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (n=60) — without OSA, group 2 (n=72) — with OSA. Systemic inflammation was assessed using neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR), Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) — platelets´neutrophils/lymphocytes. Blood pressure was monitored with assessment of average daily values, circadian rhythm, and variability.

Results. Patients with OSA had higher nighttime blood pressure values (p<0,05) and 24-hour variability (p<0,05). In group 2 patients, a pathological blood pressure profile was detected in 66,7% of cases, while in group 1 — in 36,7%. The systemic inflammation indices were significantly higher in patients with OSA than in the group without OSA — NLR by 18,8% (p<0,01), PLR by 22,5% (p<0,01), MLR by 19,0% (p<0,01), SII by 41,0% (p<0,001).

Conclusion. We established that patients with coronary artery disease and OSA have more pronounced systemic inflammation, more often have a pathological 24-hour BP profile ("non-dipper", "night-peaker"), BP variability, higher values of average 24-hour, daytime and nighttime BP compared with patients without OSA.

Aim. To study the clinical effects and long-term outcomes of catheterbased renal denervation (CRD) in patients with cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Material and methods. This single-center prospective observational study included 60 patients with uncontrolled hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and coronary artery disease after complete endovascular revascularization. Patients were divided into 30 groups into the CRD group and the control group. CRD was performed via femoral access using a Spyral catheter (Medtronic, USA). The primary endpoint was the change in glycemic levels after 12 months.

Results. In the CRD group, a significant decrease in basal glycemia level from 9,3 (7,67-10,12) to 6,05 (5,2-8,3) mmol/l, glycated hemoglobin from 7,6 (6,98,4) to 6,6 (6,2-7,2)%, Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) from 6,6 (3,73-11,2) to 4,76 (2,73-7,1) — in the absence of significant changes in the control group. A significant decrease in the average level of office systolic (-14 (-24; -10) mm Hg, p=0,0002) and diastolic blood pressure (-10 (-10; -6) mm Hg, p=0,0002), p=0,0007) was also revealed — in the absence of significant changes in the control group. There were no significant differences in late lumen loss between the groups: 21,8% (17,3-28,8) in the CRD group vs 26,3% (19,5-34,0) in the control group (p=0,09).

Conclusion. A positive effect of CRD on carbohydrate metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes, hypertension and coronary artery disease was revealed. The hypothesis of the pleiotropic effects of CRD was confirmed.

Aim. To conduct a comparative analysis of blood biomarker concentrations, to study their prognostic role in the occurrence of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VT) or VT episodes requiring electrotherapy in patients with heart failure (HF) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35% without prior syncope or sustained ventricular arrhythmias.

Material and methods. This single-center prospective clinical study included 319 patients (men, 83%) aged 57 (51-63) years with LVEF of 29 (24-33)% receiving optimal therapy for HF, hospitalized for cardioverterdefibrillator implantation for the purpose of primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. Before the procedure, the concentration of blood biomarkers (blood electrolytes, C-reactive protein, creatinine, Soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), galectin-3) was determined. Based on blood creatinine concentration, glomerular filtration rate was calculated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. Patients underwent a two-year prospective follow-up to record the end point of newly occurring clinically significant VT episodes detected by an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.

Results. The studied arrhythmic endpoint occurred in 84 (26,3%) patients. The multivariate analysis revealed three blood biomarkers, the concentration of which was associated with the first manifestation of VT. With sST-2 >35 ng/ml, this risk increased by ~3 times (odds ratio (OR)=2,86; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1,23-6,64 (p=0,013)). Galectin-3 level >12 ng/ml had a comparable prognostic value (OR=2,64; 95% CI: 1,06-6,53 (p=0,032)). In case of an increase in NT-proBNP >2000 pg/ml, the risk of the same outcome was 2,2 times lower (OR=0,46; 95% CI: 0,22-0,95 (p=0,034)).

Conclusion. Pre-implantation laboratory screening of NT-proBNP, sST-2 and galectin-3 concentrations can help in personalized assessment of arrhythmic risk in patients with HF and LVEF ≤35% referred for interventional primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. 

Aim. To examine the learning curve and results of the first 50 instances of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) that were done at our facility using minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS).

Material and methods. A total of 50 patients received CABG using the left anterior thoracotomy technique between January 2021 and November 2022. We examined the MICS CABG patients' operating hours to assess our learning curve. In addition, we reviewed postoperative outcomes and compared them with those of patients who underwent sternotomy.

Results. The median age was 49.5 years (the range was 27-72). Males made up 38 of the group, while females — 12. Ejection fraction (EF) before surgery averaged 40±5%. After exclusion criteria were met, all of these patients underwent CABG by left-sided thoracotomy. The radial artery and saphenous vein were the next alternate conduits, and all patients got left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to left anterior descending (LAD) artery as a conventional transplant. The average incision length was 7.08±0.5 cm. On the pump, only 1 case was completed. Per patient, there were 2.53±0.82 grafts on average. On average, the operation took 130.43±9.78 minutes. The median intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay was 2.82±0.74 days, while the median ventilation time was 5.79±1.80 hours. In our study, there were no conversions and no deaths. After the first 20 cases, we noticed a considerable decrease in operating time, which was our learning curve.

Conclusion. Once the learning curve has been overcome, MICS CABG can be performed for multivessel disease with the same comfort for the operator as for a singleor double-vessel disease. Only during the learning curve, and not subsequently, there were greater operating time for MICS CABG observed as a significant difference from the sternotomy technique. While there was no difference in postoperative adverse events, there were notable advantages of MICS vs sternotomy in the parameters of immediate postoperative time such as ventilation time, mean drainage, postoperative discomfort, length of stay in ICU and hospital.

Obesity is one of the risk factors for the development and progression of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Decrease in body weight (BW) by 10% from the initial level in patients with T2D and obesity significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular events. Low effectiveness of measures to reduce body weight in patients with T2D is due to hidden eating disorders against the background of mental imbalance, high levels of anxiety and depression, and frustration with glycemic levels. Solving the problem of the low frequency of achieving target values for reducing weight in type 2 diabetes through the development and evaluation of the clinical effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy protocols is of high scientific and practical significance.

Interview with Dzhioeva O. N.