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The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) provides recommendations to improve the editorial standards and scientific quality of biomedical journals. These recommendations range from uniform technical requirements to more complex and elusive editorial issues including ethical aspects of the scientific process. Recently, registration of clinical trials, conflicts of interest disclosure, and new criteria for authorship – emphasising the importance of responsibility and accountability – have been proposed. Last year, a new editorial initiative to foster sharing of clinical trial data was launched. This review discusses this novel initiative with the aim of increasing awareness among readers, investigators, authors and editors belonging to the Editors´ Network of the European Society of Cardiology.

This study aims to determine the purchasing behavior, consumption tendencies and factors affecting the consumption of potential and existing organic food consumers in Konya province center. In order to see the general perception on organic food consumption, a questionnaire consisting of 21 questions in total was prepared. The sample size of the study was calculated as 384 according to the Simple Random Probability Sampling method, and data was collected from 553 people in total. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that 8.5% of the participants did not know the term organic food, 17.4% knew it but never consumed organic food, and 74.1% knew the term and consumed organic food. A total of 31.8% of the consumers purchased organic products once a week and the most frequently purchased product/product group was vegetables and fruits with 27.6%. The most important reason for consumers to buy an organic food is that it is beneficial for health, and the reason for not buying it is the high prices.

Background/aim: Final diagnosis of heart failure (HF) relies on a combination clinical findings, laboratory and imaging tests. The aim of this study was to review the diagnostic approach to HF in Türkiye. Materials and methods: This study is a subanalysis of the nationwide TRends-HF study, based on anonymized data from National Electronic Database between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2022. Variables including date of birth, sex, socioeconomic development index, place of initial HF diagnosis, comorbidities, investigations, and diagnostic procedures were reported. Laboratory variables, including complete blood count, natriuretic peptides (NP), estimated glomerular filtration rate, uric acid, electrolytes, albumin, lipid profile, ferritin and hemoglobin A1c levels, and other imaging techniques (coronary angiogram [CAG], transthoracic echocardiography [TTE], chest X-ray [CXR], etc.) during the initial diagnosis and/or follow-up of HF patients, were obtained from the National Electronic Database. The diagnostic test usage rates were analyzed according to years, geographical regions, and socioeconomic regions of Türkiye. Results: The study population consisted of 2,722,151 HF patients (51.7% female, mean age 68.33 ± 14.01 years). All HF patients had at least one electrocardiogram and one TTE examination, and all underwent routine biochemical tests at least once during the followup period. CXR utilization rate was 93.7%, while CAG utilization rate was 17.9%. Coronary computed tomographic angiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging were performed in only 1.8% and 0.3% of patients, respectively. Among all Turkish HF patients, 16.3% had at least one NP measurement. The highest rate of NP use was observed in the Central Anatolia Region (21.0%), while the lowest rate was in the Aegean Region (11.7%). NP measurement during HF diagnosis revealed a rising trend over time (12.3% in 2016 vs. 26.3% in 2021). Conclusion: The widespread use of TTE at the beginning of the diagnosis and during follow-up is important for providing quality care to HF patients in Türkiye. However, detailed laboratory tests and advanced imaging methods are not utilized sufficiently, which could lead to issues in patient management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Despite Türkiye's relatively young population, there is an emerging trend of earlier diagnoses of chronic diseases, including heart failure (HF). This study aims to shed light on survival rates, potential influences of guideline-directed therapies, and sex-based differences necessitating personalized management in HF. Materials and methods: We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort analysis of 2,722,151 patients with HF using deidentified data from the Turkish Ministry of Health's national electronic database. That cohort included 2,701,099 adult patients with HF. Adult patients were divided into two groups based on their outcomes as those who were deceased and those who survived and were then compared. Multivariate regression analysis was conducted to identify variables predicting mortality. The patients' hospital admissions and length of hospital stay were analyzed based on survival status and age. Results: Out of 2,722,151 HF patients, the overall mortality rate was 33.7%, with a difference observed according to sex (32.5% in female patients, 35.0% in male patients). Survival rates at 1, 5, and 7 years after the HF diagnosis were detailed. Deceased HF patients had more comorbidities, higher natriuretic peptides, and lower glomerular filtration rates. Hospitalization patterns varied, with 41% experiencing no hospitalization. The average length of hospital stay in 2022 was 6 days, with sex- and age-specific disparities. Conclusion: The survival rate of HF in Türkiye is similar to world data. The survival of female patients is better than that of male patients. Increased survival rates can likely be attributed to the widespread use of guideline-directed therapies. Finally, high healthcare utilization is observed, especially in emergency situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Effective management of heart failure involves evidence-based use of multiple medications and their combinations. Furthermore, dosage escalation of the recommended medications is advised. In cases of advanced heart failure, long-term mechanical assistance devices or heart transplantation surgery may be necessary. Socio-economic disparities create unequal opportunities for people to access these treatments. The study aimed to analyze and compare medical and advanced heart failure treatments recommended by guidelines across various regions in Türkiye. Materials and methods: About 85 million citizens medical treatment records were utilized between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2022. Medical and heart replacement treatment opportunities for heart failure in Türkiye were evaluated in the general population and across different geographical regions. Results: According to this study, beta-blockers were the most commonly prescribed medication for heart failure in Türkiye. This was followed by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors at 44% and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists at 38.9%. However, only 0.6% of patients used angiotensin receptor blocker-neprilysin inhibitors. Despite the high incidence of diabetes mellitus among heart failure patients, only 11% used sodium-glucose cotransporter two inhibitors. The study also found that using an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) was 0.8%, and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) was 0.3% among all intracardiac device treatments. Heart replacement therapies, cardiac transplantation surgery, and long-term left ventricle-assisted device (LVAD) surgery had very low rates. Conclusion: The use of guideline-directed medical therapy is not optimal in Türkiye and varies across different geographical regions. It is a fact that heart transplant or LVAD surgery, CRT, and ICD implantation rates in Türkiye are significantly lower than those in developed countries, regardless of geographical region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: The epidemiological data on heart failure (HF) vary between regions within the same country. We aimed to investigate the epidemiological data on HF in Türkiye across all age groups regarding seven geographical regions. Materials and methods: We included all patients from the Turkish population who received a first diagnosis of HF between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2022, using ICD-10 codes from the National Electronic Healthcare Database. The data were categorized by seven geographical regions of Türkiye. Results: The median age of index diagnosis of HF was 70 (60--78) years in all age groups and 4 (1--12) years in pediatric population. The prevalence rate of HF was the highest in the Black Sea Region at 3.103%, while the Southeastern Anatolia Region exhibited the lowest at 1.436%. In all age groups, female patients with HF were older and had a higher prevalence rate across all geographical regions than male patients. From 2017 to 2021, incidence rates of HF declined to 3.0 per 1000 person years, with a consistent decrease for each geographical region. The highest incidence rates of HF were seen in the Black Sea Region, while the Southeastern Anatolia Region had the lowest. Evaluating pediatric population with HF, prevalence of HF was 0.81 per 1000 people (female children: 0.77 per 1000 people, male children: 0.84 per 1000 people). Female children with HF demonstrated the highest prevalence in the Central Anatolia Region with a rate of 1.04 per 1000 people, while male pediatric population with HF exhibited the greatest prevalence of HF in the Mediterranean Region, reaching 0.89 per 1000 people. The lowest prevalence of children with HF in both sexes was observed in the Eastern Anatolia Region (female children: 0.62 per 1000 people, male children: 0.48 per 1000 people). Conclusion: Despite regional variations, prevalence of HF in Türkiye's regions aligns with global trends. Sex-based differences in HF prevalence were evident across all age groups, including pediatric population. Incidence rates of HF in each region exhibited a substantial decline by 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Heart failure (HF) is associated with a wide range of comorbidities that negatively impact clinical outcomes and cause high economic burden. We aimed to evaluate the frequency and burden of comorbidities in HF patients in Türkiye and their relationships with patients' demographic characteristics. Materials and methods: Based on ICD-10 codes in the national electronic database of the Turkish Ministry of Health covering the entire population of Türkiye (n = 85,279,553) from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2022, data on the prevalence of comorbidities in HF patients were obtained. The frequency and burden of comorbidities were analyzed separately by age groups, sex, and socioeconomic status (SES). Results: Between 2016 and 2022, there were 2,722,151 patients (51.7% female) of all ages who were diagnosed with HF. In Türkiye, the most common comorbidities of HF patients were hypertension (HT) (97.6%), atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) (84.9%), dyslipidemia (59.5%), anxiety disorder (48.1%), diabetes mellitus (DM) (45.2%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (43.6%), anemia (40.6%), and atrial fibrillation (AF) (37.1%). Female patients had higher rates of anemia, DM, HT, and anxiety disorders, while male patients had higher rates of ASCVD, COPD, and dyslipidemia. The most common comorbidity in patients under 20 years of age was congenital heart disease (52.3%). More than 90% of HF patients had ≥2 comorbidities. HF patients with ≥5 comorbidities increased from 18.1% in the group aged 20--49 years to 38.3% in the group aged 50--79 years. Comorbidities were similar across SES groups. Conclusion: The most common comorbidities in cases of HF in Türkiye are HT, ASCVD, dyslipidemia, DM, COPD, anemia, and AF, respectively, and more than 90% of patients have ≥2 comorbidities. While ASCVD and dyslipidemia were more common in male patients, anemia, DM, and anxiety disorders were more common in female patients. The number of comorbid conditions increased with advanced age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] plasma level is a well‐known risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Existing data regarding the influence of sex on the Lp(a)‐CAD relationship are inconsistent. Objective: To investigate the relationship between Lp(a) and CAD in men and women and to elucidate any sex‐specific differences that may exist. Methods: Data of patients with Lp(a) measurements who were admitted to a tertiary university hospital, Koc University Hospital, were analyzed. The relationship between Lp(a) levels and CAD was explored in all patients and in subgroups created by sex. Two commonly accepted Lp(a) thresholds ≥ 30 and ≥ 50 mg/dL were analyzed. Results: A total of 1858 patients (mean age 54 ± 17 years; 53.33% females) were included in the analysis. Lp(a) was an independent predictor of CAD according to the multivariate regression model for the entire cohort. In all cohort, both cut‐off values (≥ 30 and ≥ 50 mg/dL) were detected as independent predictors of CAD (p < 0.001). In sex‐specific analysis, an Lp(a) ≥ 30 mg/dL was an independent predictor of CAD only in women (p < 0.001), but Lp(a) ≥ 50 mg/dL was a CAD predictor both in men and women (men, p = 0.004; women, p = 0.047). Conclusion: The findings of this study may suggest that different thresholds of Lp(a) level can be employed for risk stratification in women compared to men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey conducted by the Editors Network of the National Societies of Cardiology (NSC) journals of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) evaluated the representation of women on editorial boards. The survey found that while there has been an increase in female representation over the past decade, it is still not close to the suggested ESC quota. The survey also identified factors contributing to the underrepresentation of women, including the low number of women in interventional cardiology and perceived underqualification of women compared to men. The authors recommend promoting initiatives to involve female scientists early in their careers and establishing more gender-balanced editorial boards to improve diversity and quality in academic publishing. [Extracted from the article]

Natriuretic peptides are widely used in all types of heart failure. Previously, we defined heart failure with non-reduced ejection fraction as patients with heart failure symptoms and/or signs and who have left ventricular ejection fraction > 40%.1 For the diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, the presence of raised natriuretic peptides is one of the major components of the diagnosis, and raised natriuretic peptides make the diagnosis more likely in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction.2 The majority of the existing studies have described the utility of natriuretic peptides in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, but there is not enough data on natriuretic peptides in heart failure patients with heart failure with non-reduced ejection fraction. Despite the insufficient information regarding the usage of natriuretic peptides in heart failure with non-reduced ejection fraction, it is obvious that there is an unmet need to guide how to use natriuretic peptides in these patients. The main goal of this article is to discuss the role of natriuretic peptides in diagnosis, prognosis, and guidance of heart failure treatment in patients with heart failure with non-reduced ejection fraction. The present review discusses the role of natriuretic peptides in heart failure with non-reduced ejection fraction focusing on: the characteristics of natriuretic peptides, primary prevention of heart failure, diagnosis of heart failure with non-reduced ejection fraction in different patient characteristics and co-morbidities, prognosis of heart failure, monitoring of heart failure treatment and, how to use in worsening heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: In this study, it was aimed to examine the effects of metabolic syndrome, which affects many organs, on the autonomic nervous system and to observe the changes after treatment. Materials and Methods: Heart rate variability values of 101 metabolic syndrome patients who were treated at the Kocaeli University Cardiology Outpatient Clinic included in the study. All patients were offered lifestyle change suggestions in addition to their medical treatments. At the end of three months, the heart rate variability parameters of the patients were re-evaluated. Results: Heart rate variability values were found to be significantly lower in metabolic syndrome patients compared to the control group. It was observed that the heart rate variability values improved significantly in half of the patients who applied the given treatment with lifestyle changes. A decrease in heart rate change parameters was found in the group that did not implement lifestyle changes compared to the beginning of the study. Conclusion: Autonomic nervous system functions evaluated by heart rate variability decreased in patients with metabolic syndrome, and the treatment and lifestyle changes had a positive effect on these parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]