Evaluation of Malnutrition Statuses in Systolic Heart Failure Patients

DergiPark: 539664tmsjAims: The aim of this study is to determine the malnutrition statuses of patients with systolic heart failure in Trakya University Hospital and Edirne Sultan 1st Murat State Hospital.Methods: Mini Nutritional Assessment was used to determine the patients’ malnutrition statuses. In addition, patients’ transthoracic echocardiography results, biochemistry tests, hemograms, medications and habits were evaluated with patients’ nutritional scores. One-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for comparing the results and Pearson?2 test and Fischer’s exact test were used to obtain categorical data. Results: The total number of subjects in the study was 66 (61 patients from Trakya University Hospital; 5 patients from Edirne Sultan 1st Murat State Hospital). The mean age of all subjects was 65.3 ± 11.1. Out of all patients, 17 of them were female, while 49 of them were male. The mean Mini Nutrition Assessment score was 21.9 ± 4.7. In total, 34 patients had an adequate nutritional status, 25 patients were at risk of malnutrition and 7 patients were malnourished. Conclusion: Although malnourished patients were detected, well – nourished patients were higher. Therefore, it could be said that patients with heart failure are conscious of their health and diet. It is crucial for the health care providers to maintain giving advices on healthy living and nutrition to keep this elderly population well–nourishe

Impact of T Wave Amplitude in Lead Avr on Predicting Appropriate Therapies in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Patients With An Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator

DergiPark: 420837tmsjAims: Although implantable cardioverter defibrillator reduces mortality in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients,inappropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks are related to increased mortality. The aim of this studyis to investigate whether a new electrocardiographic marker of T wave amplitude in lead aVR can be used to predictappropriate therapy of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (shock or anti-tachycardia pacing) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathypatients.Methods: Thirty-six hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients, who were admitted to the outpatient clinic for pacemakercontrol, with implantable cardioverter defibrillator were retrospectively examined (mean age: 51 ± 10.2 years,72.2% male). The primary endpoint was appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy. All hematological,biochemical and electrocardiogram parameters were measured before implantable cardioverter defibrillator wasimplanted.Results: Over a median follow-up period of 33 months, 9 (25%) patients experienced appropriate implantablecardioverter defibrillator therapy. Heart rate and QRS interval were similar between groups. QT and QTc valueswere higher in patients that received appropriate shocks. Patients who have T wave inversion were higher in therapypositive group. T wave amplitude in lead aVR values were significantly associated with appropriate therapy.Conclusion: Using simple ECG parameters, we may predict arrhythmic episodes before ICD implantation and animprovement of the medical antiarrhythmic therapy might be protective for HCM patients with ICD

AN EVALUATION ON THE REFLECTIONS OF SCHOOL GARDENS ON EDUCATION

This study aims to determine the physical conditions, cleanliness and order of the school gardens, the conditions of the garden walls and the security measures taken regarding the gardens, and to reveal the reflections of these features on education. This study, which also tries to reveal the satisfaction levels of students, parents, teachers and school administrators regarding school gardens, is qualitative research in the survey model. Research data were collected by natural/unstructured observation and semi-structured interview techniques. Content analysis technique was used in the analysis of the data. This study was conducted in six official primary schools at lower, middle and upper socio-economic levels, and interviews were conducted with 101 students, 35 parents, 22 teachers and 6 administrators in these schools. In the research, it was determined that the school gardens do not have the features to increase the physical activity of the students, there are insufficient and unplanned applications in the gardens, and the gardens do not contribute to educational activities. In addition, it has been determined that students, parents, teachers and administrators are not satisfied with the physical conditions, cleanliness and order of the school gardens, the condition of the garden walls and security measures.  Article visualizations

Familial Mediterranean fever: Health-related quality of life and associated variables in a national cohort

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the effectivity of Familial Mediterranean Fever Quality of Life (FMF-QoL) Scale for the measurement of QoL in patients with FMF and to perform correlations between related clinical variables in Turkish patients. Patients and methods: This multicenter prospective study performed between December 2017 and November 2018 included 974 FMF patients (334 males, 640 females; median age: 35; range, 26 to 45 years). Sociodemographic characteristics and clinical features were recorded. All participants were asked to complete the FMF-QoL Scale, Short Form-36 (SF-36), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) Scale. Results: The median FMF-QoL Scale score was 26. Higher FMF-QoL Scale scores were shown to be related to female sex, illiteracy or primary education, monthly low-income (US$20 years), a higher number of attacks per month (>1/month), and severe disease. FMF-QoL Scale scores were correlated negatively with subscales of SF-36, and positively with HADS-anxiety and HADS-depression scores, HAQ and FACIT. Conclusion: Female sex, smoking, lower educational status, more severe disease, fatigue, and functional impairment were associated with poor QoL. FMF-QoL Scale was noted as a valid and simple patient-reported outcome instrument and correlated with the SF-36 scale

Asemptomatik Düşük Ejeksiyon Fraksiyonlu Hastalarda Koroner Arter Hastalığı Sıklığı

Objective: In asymptomatic and incidentally detected low ejection fraction patients, performing a coronary angiog­raphy (CAG) is not recommended routinely. But the prog­nosis for patients with ischemic etiology remains worse and performing CAG for the elucidation of the etiology may be beneficial. In our study, in asymptomatic and low EF patients who underwent CAG, coronary artery disease frequency was investigated. Methods: Totally 100 coronary angiography were per­formed at our institution for the elucidation of the etiology. The patients do not have angina or heart failure symp­toms. Results: The median age was 61 years with 75% male ratio. Mean ejection fraction was 33.8%. Ischemic etiol­ogy was 26% after coronary angiography. The prevalence of CABG was 8 and stenting was 11 patients, CABG and stenting group was defined as invasive therapy group with 19 patients. The prevalence of normally coronary artery was 17. The prevalence of medical therapy deci­sion was 64 patients. The medical therapy patients were divided into two groups. 7 patients were in ischemic group and 57 patients were in non-ischemic group. Conclusion: In our study, in patients without chest pain or symptoms of heart failure with low ejection fraction, in­cidence of coronary artery disease were evaluated

Use of Electrocardiographic Markers to Predict Ventricular Arrhythmias in Acute Myocarditis Patients

DergiPark: 379058tmsjAims: Acute myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium and is characterized by a large heterogeneity of clinical presentation. Myocarditis is becoming to be recognized as a contributor to unexplained mortality, and is thought to be a major cause of sudden cardiac death in the first two decades of life. Myocardial inflammation, ion channel dysfunction, electrophysiological and structural remodelling may play important roles in life-threatening arrhythmias. We aimed to investigate the ventricular arrhythmia predictors in myocarditis patients by using electrocardiographic markers. Methods: A total of 56 patients (mean age 22.5 ± 3.7 years; 89% males) with acute myocarditis were enrolled in the study. Tpeak-Tend intervals, Tpeak-Tend/QT and Tpeak-Tend/corrected QT (QTc), cardio-electrophysiological balance (QT/QRS) and heart rate-corrected QT(QTc)/QRS ratios were calculated from 12-lead electrocardiogram. Results: Heart rate, QT and QTc values were similar between groups. QRS complexes were lower in arrhythmia positive group than arrhythmia negative group (p=0.004). Tpeak-Tend intervals, Tpeak-Tend/QT, Tpeak-Tend/ QTc, cardio-electrophysiological balance and heart rate-corrected QT(QTc)/QRS values were significantly higher in arrhythmia positive group ( lt; 0.001, lt; 0.001, p=0.03, p=0.04 and lt; 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: In this study, we observed that higher Tpeak-Tend, Tpeak-Tend/QT, Tpeak-Tend/QTc , cardio-electrophysiological balance (ICEB) and heart rate-corrected QT(QTc)/QRS ratio are associated with ventricular arrhythmic episodes in acute myocarditis patients. These electrocardiographic markers may be beneficial to identify high risk patients for arrhytmias complicating myocarditis