The Evaluation of Functional Abilities Using the Modified Fullerton Functional Fitness Test Is a Valuable Accessory in Diagnosing Men with Heart Failure.

The assessment of functional abilities reflects the ability to perform everyday life activities that require specific endurance and physical fitness. The Fullerton functional fitness test (FFFT) seems to be the most appropriate for assessing physical fitness in heart failure (HF) patients. The study group consisted of 30 consecutive patients hospitalized for the routine assessment of HF with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). They formed the study group, and 24 healthy subjects formed the control group. Each patient underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), transthoracic echocardiography and FFFT modified by adding the measurement of the handgrip force of the dominant limb with the digital dynamometer. The HF patients had significantly lower peak oxygen uptake (peakVO2), maximal minute ventilation, and higher ventilatory equivalent (VE/VCO2). The concentrations of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) were significantly higher in the study group. The results of all the FFFT items were significantly worse in the study group. FFFT parameters, together with the assessment of the strength of the handgrip, strongly correlated with the results of standard tests in HF. FFFT is an effective and safe tool for the functional evaluation of patients with HFrEF. Simple muscle strength measurement with a hand-held dynamometer can become a convenient and practical indicator of muscle strength in HF patients.

SGLT2 Inhibitors in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Heart Failure-A Concise Review.

The incidence of both diabetes mellitus type 2 and heart failure is rapidly growing, and the diseases often coexist. Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are a new antidiabetic drug class that mediates epithelial glucose transport at the renal proximal tubules, inhibiting glucose absorption-resulting in glycosuria-and therefore improving glycemic control. Recent trials have proven that SGLT2i also improve cardiovascular and renal outcomes, including reduced cardiovascular mortality and fewer hospitalizations for heart failure. Reduced preload and afterload, improved vascular function, and changes in tissue sodium and calcium handling may also play a role. The expected paradigm shift in treatment strategies was reflected in the most recent 2021 guidelines published by the European Society of Cardiology, recommending dapagliflozin and empagliflozin as first-line treatment for heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction. Moreover, the recent results of the EMPEROR-Preserved trial regarding empagliflozin give us hope that there is finally an effective treatment for patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. This review aims to assess the efficacy and safety of these new anti-glycemic oral agents in the management of diabetic and heart failure patients.

Coronary Stent Thrombosis in COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review of Cases Reported Worldwide.

Approximately 5 million percutaneous coronary interventions are performed worldwide annually. Therefore, stent-related complications pose a serious public health concern. Stent thrombosis, although rare, is usually catastrophic, often associated with extensive myocardial infarction or death. Because little progress has been made in outcomes following stent thrombosis, ongoing research is focusing on further understanding the predictors as well as frequency and timing in various patient subgroups. Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), a viral illness caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), activates inflammatory mechanisms that potentially create a prothrombotic environment and increases the risk of local micro thromboembolism and all types of stent thrombosis. In-stent thrombosis occurrence increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, however, there is still lack of comprehensive studies describing this population. This review and worldwide analysis of coronary stent thrombosis cases related to COVID-19 summarizes all available data.

The patient with heart failure in the face of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: an expert opinion of the Heart Failure Working Group of the Polish Cardiac Society

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS­CoV­2), a new coronavirus that induces acute respiratory failure among other conditions, is the cause of the rapidly spreading coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID­19), affecting thousands of people around the world. The present expert opinion is a synthetic summary of the current knowledge on the various aspects of heart failure in patients with COVID­19. The aim of the paper was to provide clinicians with necessary information useful in daily clinical practice.

Expert opinion of the Working Group on Heart Failure of the Polish Cardiac Society: the patient with heart failure facing the COVID-19 pandemic

New coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus) acute respiratory failure is the cause of the rapidly spreading coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019), affecting thousands of people around the world. Due to the limited information on heart dysfunction in patients with COVID-19, a synthetic summary of current knowledge is needed to help clinicians who care for patients with cardiovascular disease, especially heart failure (HF) patients. We present the expert opinion of the Polish Cardiac Society - Working Group of Heart Failure (PCS - HF).