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OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) during daily clinical practice. METHODS: This was a prospective study conducted between January 01, 2016, and April 01, 2017, in patients aged ≥18 years with a diagnosis of NVAF. We performed the study in 9 clinical centers from different regions of Turkey, and the mean follow-up period was 12+2 months. We investigated major and minor bleeding events of DOAC. RESULTS: A total of 1807 patients with NVAF were enrolled. The mean age of the patients was 73.6±10.2 years, CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3.6±1.4, and HAS-BLED score was 2±1.2. The most frequently prescribed DOAC was dabigatran 110 mg bid in 409 (22.6%) patients. The patients on apixaban 2.5 mg bid were older (p

OBJECTIVE Iron deficiency (ID) is the most common nutritional deficiency, and iron metabolism becomes further deteriorated in the presence of certain conditions, such as heart failure (HF). Atrial fibrillation (AF) has many similarities to HF, including a chronic inflammatory pathophysiology; however, the prevalence of ID and other hematinic deficiencies in AF patients have not been determined. METHODS In this study, the prevalence of iron (serum ferritin

OBJECTIVE It has been reported that women receive fewer preventive recommendations regarding pharmacological treatment, lifestyle modifications, and cardiac rehabilitation compared with men who have a similar risk profile. This study was an investigation of the impact of gender on cardiovascular risk profile and secondary prevention measures for coronary artery disease (CAD) in the Turkish population. METHODS Statistical analyses were based on the European Action on Secondary and Primary Prevention through Intervention to Reduce Events (EUROASPIRE)-IV cross-sectional survey data obtained from 17 centers in Turkey. Male and female patients, aged 18 to 80 years, who were hospitalized for a first or recurrent coronary event (coronary artery bypass graft, percutaneous coronary intervention, acute myocardial infarction, or acute myocardial ischemia) were eligible. RESULTS A total of 88 (19.7%) females and 358 males (80.3%) were included. At the time of the index event, the females were significantly older (p=0.003) and had received less formal education (p 0.05). CONCLUSION Achievement of ideal body weight, fasting blood glucose and blood pressure targets was lower in women despite similar reported medication use. This highlights the importance of the implementation of lifestyle measures and adherence to medications in women.

Objective Data from EUROASPIRE-IV Turkey report investigating risk factors and adherence to guidelines in patients hospitalized for coronary artery disease are presented and results are compared with those of EUROASPIRE-III Turkey and EUROASPIRE-IV Europe. Methods Study was performed in 24 European countries, including Turkey (17 centers). Patients (18-80 years old) hospitalized for coronary (index) event during preceding 3 years were identified from hospital records and interviewed ≥6 months later. Patient information regarding index event was acquired from hospital records. Anamnesis was obtained during the interview, and physical examination and laboratory analyses were performed. Results Median age at the index coronary event was 58.8 years, and it was significantly decreased compared with last EUROASPIRE-III study (60.5 years), which was conducted at the same centers 6 years earlier (p=0.017). Of all patients, 19.3% were under 50 years of age and mean age was lower than that of EUROASPIRE-IV Europe (62.5 years). Comparing EUROASPIRE-IV Turkey with EUROASPIRE-III Turkey, rate of smokers increased to 25.5% from 23.1% (p=0.499), obesity increased to 40.7% from 35.5% (p=0.211), total cholesterol level increased to 49.6% from 48.3% (p=0.767), and diabetes rate increased to 39.7% from 33.6% (p=0.139), however none of the differences reached a level of statistical significance. Only 11.7% of the smokers quit after coronary event. Rates for these factors were lower in EUROASPIRE-IV Europe (16% for smoking, 37.6% for obesity, and 26.8% for diabetes). Conclusion EUROASPIRE-IV Turkey data revealed that secondary prevention was unsatisfactory and had progressed unfavorably compared with last EUROASPIRE study, some risk factors were more uncontrolled than overall European average, and coronary artery events at young age remain an important problem.

OBJECTIVES We analyzed all-cause and coronary mortality data of the Turkish Adult Risk Factor Study cohort in Marmara and Central Anatolia regions, surveyed in 2011, and overall performance of long-term (21 years) follow-up of participants. STUDY DESIGN A total of 1,588 participants with an age range of 45 to 74 years were surveyed. Information on the mode of death was obtained from first-degree relatives and/or personnel of local health offices. Information on survivors was obtained from history, physical examination, and 12-lead electrocardiograms. Loss to follow-up was defined as the lack of physical examination for at least eight years. RESULTS Of the surveyed participants, 854 were examined, information on health status was obtained in 606 subjects, 46 individuals (28 men, 18 women) were ascertained to have died, and 82 subjects were lost to follow-up. A total of 2,800 person-years were added to follow-up. Nineteen deaths were attributed to coronary heart disease (CHD) and five deaths to cerebrovascular events. Overall mortality was estimated as 10.9 per 1000 person-years. In the age bracket of 45-74 years, overall annual all-cause mortality and CHD mortality were 12.8 and 5.5 per mille, respectively. Based on the total loss to follow-up (31.2%) during the past two decades, an annual loss to follow-up may be derived as 19.3 for every 1000 participants. This loss was nearly twice as high in participants living in big cities compared to those in smaller towns and rural areas. CONCLUSION A trend to slight reduction in coronary mortality, though not in overall mortality, before the age 75 years is noted in Turks. Annual loss to follow-up amounts to 2% of the participants.

Objective: The objective of this study was to retrospectively analyze the clinical course and postoperative long-term survival of patients diagnosed with isolated left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenosis after surgical revascularization. Methods: A total of 38 patients (27 males, 11 females) who were diagnosed with isolated LMCA stenosis and underwent surgical revascularization were enrolled in the study. Isolated LMCA stenosis was classified into 2 groups: ostial stenosis and nonostial stenosis. Coronary events were defined as death of cardiac origin, the need for a new myocardial revascularization procedure, or the occurrence of myocardial infarction in the course of follow-up. The postoperative assessment period included short- and long-term follow-up. The study endpoint was defined as all-cause mortality. Results: Among the 38 patients who participated in the study, 25 suffered from ostial LMCA stenosis. The early postoperative mortality rate before hospital discharge was 2.6%. Median duration of postoperative long-term follow-up was 73.43 months (range: 0.17–187.23). Median duration of long-term follow-up free from coronary events or percutaneous coronary interventions was 73.43 months. Postoperative 2-year survival rate was 97.4%, and 5-year survival rate was 92.1%. The postoperative survival period and period free of coronary events of patients with isolated ostial LMCA stenosis did not differ significantly from those of patients with nonostial stenosis (p=0.801, p=0.970, respectively). Conclusion: Postoperative short- and long-term prognosis of isolated LMCA stenosis appears good in terms of mortality and coronary event symptoms.