Prognostic Implications of the Timing of ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Development in Relation to COVID-19 Infection.

Background: Patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and COVID-19 infection have a worse clinical course and prognosis. The prognostic significance of the timing of STEMI in relation to COVID-19 infection was not investigated. Objectives: To assess whether the time of STEMI development in relation to COVID-19 infection (concurrent or following the infection) influenced the short-term prognosis. Methods: This was an observational study of consecutive COVID-19 patients with STEMI admitted to the COVID-hospital Batajnica (February 2021-March 2022). The patients were divided into the "STEMI first" group: patients with STEMI and a positive polymerase chain reaction test for COVID-19, and the "COVID-19 first" group: patients who developed STEMI during COVID-19 treatment. All patients underwent coronary angiography. The primary endpoint was in-hospital all-cause mortality. Results: The study included 87 patients with STEMI and COVID-19 (Mage, 66.7 years, 66% male). The "STEMI first" group comprised 54 (62.1%) patients, and the "COVID-19 first" group included 33 (37.9%) patients. Both groups shared a comparatively high burden of comorbidities, similar angiographic and procedural characteristics, and high percentages of performed percutaneous coronary interventions with stent implantation (90.7% vs. 87.9%). In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the "COVID-19 first" group compared to the "STEMI first" group (51.5% vs. 27.8%). Following adjustment, the "COVID-19 first" group had a hazard ratio of 3.22 (95% confidence interval, 1.18-8.75, p = .022) for in-hospital all-cause death, compared with the "STEMI first" group (reference). Conclusion: Clinical presentation with COVID-19 infection, followed by STEMI ("COVID-19 first"), was associated with greater short-term mortality compared to patients presenting with STEMI and testing positive for COVID-19 ("STEMI first").

Tuberculosis incidence in elderly in Serbia: key trends in socioeconomic transition.

AIM: To examine tuberculosis incidence rates among the elderly in Central Serbia in 1992-2006 period, which was characterized by socioeconomic crisis and migration of population. METHODS: We analyzed all reported active tuberculosis cases in a 15-year period, especially among patients aged > or =65, according to the Annual Reports of the Institute of Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis in Belgrade and Central Tuberculosis Register. Population estimates with extrapolations were based on 1991 and 2002 census data. RESULTS: Total tuberculosis incidence rates showed a slight but non-significant decreasing trend (P=0.535), and no significant increase was found in patients aged > or =65 years (P=0.064), with an average age-specific incidence rate for the elderly of 64.0 (95% confidence interval, 60.7-67.4). The increase was significant in patients aged > or =70 years (y=49.3549+2.1186x; P=0.001), both in men (y=62.8666+2.3977x; P=0.005) and even more prominently in women (y=39.8240+1.9150x; P<0.001). The proportion of tuberculosis cases in the elderly peaked in 2005, with 35% of all tuberculosis cases. CONCLUSION: High incidence rates and increasing time trend of tuberculosis in the elderly in Central Serbia is a serious problem, especially among those aged 70 years and over, who might present a target group for active case-finding of the disease.

Clinical features of lung cancer in patients with connective tissue diseases: a 10-year hospital based study.

BACKGROUND: Connective tissue diseases (CTD) might be associated with various malignancies, and one of the most frequent is lung cancer (LC). Despite our understanding of pathogenesis, this association remains still unclear. The aim of the present study is to describe the clinical characteristics of patients with CTD who developed LC. METHODS: Of 375 successive patients with CTD followed up to University Hospital between 1995 and 2004, 24 patients were diagnosed with LC: 11 (46%) had systemic sclerosis (SSc), 6 (25%) rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 6 (25%) systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and 1 (4%) dermatomyositis. We analyzed LC stage, radiological presentation, histological type, patients' smoking status, method of diagnosis, treatment applied, and disease outcome. RESULTS: Average duration of CTD was 13.95 (range 0-30) years. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was significantly more frequent than small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Among patients with NSCLC, 21 patients (85%) presented with stage III or IV. With regard to treatment, 13% patients underwent surgery, 25% chemotherapy, 4% patients combined chemo- and radiotherapy and 58% patients had only supportive therapy. The median survival was 5 months (range 1-96 months). CONCLUSION: The majority of CTD patients who developed LC were diagnosed at advanced stage and had poor survival. Efforts for early detection of LC in CTD patients' group are warranted.