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Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has resulted in a health crisis and a significant number of deaths worldwide. The full effect on access to medical care and the treatment for patients with chronic diseases and acute conditions is still unknown. This is an investigation of access to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) for patients diagnosed with ST-segment myocardial infarction (STEMI) during the pandemic. Methods: Consecutive patients who were diagnosed with STEMI and underwent PPCI during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic were included in the study. Clinical and angiographic characteristics of the patients were assessed. A control group of patients diagnosed with STEMI and who underwent PPCI during the same time interval a year prior to the outbreak of the disease was analyzed retrospectively for comparison. Results: There was a significant reduction in the number of STEMI cases during the COVID-19 crisis period. Furthermore, these patients had a prolonged ischemic time; they were more likely to have a longer pain-to-balloon (Odds ratio [OR]: 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1–10.2) and door-to-balloon time (OR: 5.4, 95% CI: 3.1–22.8). Conclusion: Patients diagnosed with STEMI during the pandemic experienced a significant delay between the onset of symptoms and PPCI.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a 12-week phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program in Turkish patients aged between ≤65 years and >65 years using psychical parameters, echocardiography measurements, lipid profiles, and psychological parameters. Methods: A total of 68 patients who completed a phase II CR program were enrolled in this retrospective study. The echocardiography measurements, as well as assessment of physical parameters, psychological state, and serum lipid level of the patients were evaluated before the entry into the program and just after the completion. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those aged 65 years and under and those over the age of 65, and the effects of the CR program were compared. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the average heart rate (HR), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) I-II scores of young patients before and after cardiac rehabilitation. The LVEF, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), BDI, STAI-I, and STAI-II parameters of older patients were statistically significant. In the comparison between those who were 65 years and under and those over the age of 65, the change in the mean HR (+11.24+-12.62 bpm vs. +3.96+-12.50 bpm; p=0.039), LVEF (+21.31+-21.37% vs. +9.55+-13.50%; p=0.035) and STAI I scores (-11.33+-11.51 points vs. -23.25+-14.08 points; p=0.025) were significantly different. Conclusion: The results of the present study revealed that patients in a Turkish population aged 65 and over benefited from CR as much as younger patients did in terms of physical parameters, echocardiography measurements, lipid profiles, and psychological parameters.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world and contributes a considerable burden to healthcare costs. Primary prevention strategies, particularly adopting healthy lifestyle habits, have great potential to reduce the risk of CVD. Patient compliance remains the major cause of the failure of primary prevention strategies. Telehealth interventions and gamification through mobile applications can increase adherence and reduce healthcare costs. The primary objective of this study is to compare the effect of lifestyle intervention using mobile technology plus usual care with usual care alone in patients with a high CVD risk.

OBJECTIVE: Monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR) has recently been postulated as a novel parameter related to adverse cardiovascular outcomes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlation of MHR with stent restenosis (SR) rates after the primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and bare-metal stent (BMS) implantation. METHODS: In this study, patients who had undergone primary PCI for STEMI and had a control angiogram during follow-up were retrospectively recruited. Patients were categorized according to admission MHR tertiles, clinical and angiographic data were compared. In addition, predictors of SR were evaluated with logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total number of 448 patients (240 patients with SR and 208 patients without SR) were included in this study. Patients were categorized into three groups according to tertiles of admission MHR. During a follow-up period of median 12 months, the rate of SR was significantly higher in patients with higher MHR levels (45% in tertile 1, 54% in tertile 2 and 62% in tertile 3, p