Investigation of heart rate variability and heart rate turbulence in chronic hypotensive hemodialysis patients

WOS: 000524254000022PubMed: 32157616Background Sudden cardiac death is the leading cause of cardiac-related death in hemodialysis patients. Hypotensive episodes in pre-, intra-, and post-dialytic periods can present serious clinical challenges that affect a patient's quality of life and prognosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate cardiac autonomic control and arrhythmogenic risk by analyzing 24-h heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate turbulence (HRT) in hypotensive hemodialysis patients. Methods A total of 79 patients on maintenance hemodialysis treatment, 39 normotensive and 40 with frequent hypotension episodes during non-dialysis periods, were included in the study. Dialysis-free periods were recorded with a 24-h Holter rhythm and ambulatory blood pressure monitor device. The time-domain parameters of HRV and HRT, including turbulence onset (TO) and turbulence slope (TS), were calculated. Results Values for SDNN (105.5 +/- 7.02, 127.6 +/- 6.2 p < 0.001), SDANN (95.1 +/- 5.9, 111.8 +/- 5.01 p < 0.001), and SDNN index (50.04 +/- 2.7, 55.6 +/- 3.7 p = 0.03), in the hypotensive group were significantly lower than in the normotensive group, respectively. Values for RMSSD (26.5 +/- 2.5, 27.3 +/- 2.7 p = 0.178), pNN50 (17 +/- 1.7, 55.6 +/- 3.7 p = 0.03), and TI (35.1 +/- 3.1, 34.7 +/- 2.6 p = 0.542) in both groups were not significantly different; however, there was a significant difference between HRT parameters, TO (- 1.8 +/- 0.37, - 2.4 +/- 0.39 p < 0.001) and TS (6.9 +/- 0.71, 8.2 +/- 0.97 p < 0.001), respectively, hypotensive and normotensive group. Conclusion Dialysis patients that experience frequent hypotensive episodes may also undergo significant changes in HRT and HRV which may be indicative of serious cardiac sequela. Thus, in such cases, a complete cardiologic evaluation is warranted

Investigation of heart rate variability and heart rate turbulence in chronic hypotensive hemodialysis patients

yalim, zafer/0000-0001-7736-0205WOS:000524254000022PubMed: 32157616Background Sudden cardiac death is the leading cause of cardiac-related death in hemodialysis patients. Hypotensive episodes in pre-, intra-, and post-dialytic periods can present serious clinical challenges that affect a patient's quality of life and prognosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate cardiac autonomic control and arrhythmogenic risk by analyzing 24-h heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate turbulence (HRT) in hypotensive hemodialysis patients. Methods A total of 79 patients on maintenance hemodialysis treatment, 39 normotensive and 40 with frequent hypotension episodes during non-dialysis periods, were included in the study. Dialysis-free periods were recorded with a 24-h Holter rhythm and ambulatory blood pressure monitor device. The time-domain parameters of HRV and HRT, including turbulence onset (TO) and turbulence slope (TS), were calculated. Results Values for SDNN (105.5 +/- 7.02, 127.6 +/- 6.2 p < 0.001), SDANN (95.1 +/- 5.9, 111.8 +/- 5.01 p < 0.001), and SDNN index (50.04 +/- 2.7, 55.6 +/- 3.7 p = 0.03), in the hypotensive group were significantly lower than in the normotensive group, respectively. Values for RMSSD (26.5 +/- 2.5, 27.3 +/- 2.7 p = 0.178), pNN50 (17 +/- 1.7, 55.6 +/- 3.7 p = 0.03), and TI (35.1 +/- 3.1, 34.7 +/- 2.6 p = 0.542) in both groups were not significantly different; however, there was a significant difference between HRT parameters, TO (- 1.8 +/- 0.37, - 2.4 +/- 0.39 p < 0.001) and TS (6.9 +/- 0.71, 8.2 +/- 0.97 p < 0.001), respectively, hypotensive and normotensive group. Conclusion Dialysis patients that experience frequent hypotensive episodes may also undergo significant changes in HRT and HRV which may be indicative of serious cardiac sequela. Thus, in such cases, a complete cardiologic evaluation is warranted

Allergic Contact Dermatitis due to Medical Mask; A Case Report

WOS:000592369300009Allergic contact dermatitis occurs as a result of delayed hypersensitivity reaction caused by various exogenous substances. Here, a case of allergic contact dermatitis due to medical mask use is presented. A 39-year-old female patient was admitted to Allergy outpatient clinic with complaints of red and itchy maculopapular lesions, and small blisters on the cheeks, nasolabial folds, chin and neck under the chin that started three days ago. She had no chronic illness, massive sunshine exposure, history of systemic and topical medication intake and cosmetic use. The patient has been using washable masks for the whole COVID-19 pandemic period, however she used medical masks instead of washable ones 15 days ago once and for the last two days before the beginning of her complaints. Even though there was no reaction in her first contact, the above dermatitis lesions restricted to mask area developed 24-48 hrs after starting to use it for the second time. Allergic contact dermatitis was diagnosed due to skin lesions suitable with dermatitis and occurrence of the reaction after the second contact to a suspicious substance. She was recommended to stop using medical masks, and a treatment of oral antihistamine and topical steroid was prescribed. After her complaints resolved completely, a challenge with a different brand of medical mask was performed, and no reaction was observed. As a result, this case implicates that allergic contact dermatitis may occur due to using medical masks, and it is important to use masks with standardized approval since they are essential in preventing airborne infections including corona virus

Picturing asthma in Turkey: results from the Turkish adult asthma registry

Introduction: National data on asthma characteristics and the factors associated with uncontrolled asthma seem to be necessary for every country. For this purpose, we developed the Turkish Adult Asthma Registry for patients with asthma aiming to take a snapshot of our patients, thereby assigning the unmet needs and niche areas of intervention. Methods: Case entries were performed between March 2018 and March 2022. A web-based application was used to record data. Study outcomes were demographic features, disease characteristics, asthma control levels, and phenotypes. Results: The registry included 2053 patients from 36 study centers in Turkey. Female subjects dominated the group (n = 1535, 74.8%). The majority of the patients had allergic (n = 1158, 65.3%) and eosinophilic (n = 1174, 57.2%) asthma. Six hundred nineteen (32.2%) of the patients had obese asthma. Severe asthma existed in 670 (32.6%) patients. Majority of cases were on step 3–5 treatment (n: 1525; 88.1%). Uncontrolled asthma was associated with low educational level, severe asthma attacks in the last year, low FEV1, existence of chronic rhinosinusitis and living in particular regions. Conclusion: The picture of this registry showed a dominancy of middle-aged obese women with moderate-to-severe asthma. We also determined particular strategic targets such as low educational level, severe asthma attacks, low FEV1, and chronic rhinosinusitis to decrease uncontrolled asthma in our country. Moreover, some regional strategies may also be needed as uncontrolled asthma is higher in certain regions. We believe that these data will guide authorities to reestablish national asthma programs to improve asthma service delivery

Characteristics of asthma in an older adult population according to sex and control level: why are asthma symptoms in older women not well-controlled?

ObjectiveThe older adult population in Turkey has increased by 22.6% in the last 5 years, and the characteristics of such patients with asthma remain uninvestigated. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the characteristics of older adults with asthma according to sex and asthma control status to provide an in-depth overview of asthma in this population in Turkey.MethodsThe data of older adults (age 65 years and over) with asthma were obtained from a multicenter, cross-sectional asthma database registry (Turkish Adult Asthma Registry, TAAR) funded by the Turkish Thoracic Society. Comparisons were made based on sex and asthma control levels using the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Asthma Symptom Control Questionnaire.ResultsOf the 2053 (11.5%) patients registered with the TAAR, 227 were older adults (median age, 69 (8), women, 75.8% (n = 172)). Of these, 46.5% (n = 101) had obesity to some degree. Compared with men, women had lower education, income levels, and employment rates. Additionally, women exhibited a higher prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and thyroid gland disease than men. Being female (OR: 2.99; 95% CI: 1.307-6.880), the presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (OR: 2.855; 95% CI: 1.330-6.130), and a predicted forced expiratory volume in the first-second value lower than 80% (OR: 2.938; 95% CI: 1.451-5.948) were associated with poorly controlled asthma.ConclusionsHerein, older adults comprised 11.5% of adult patients with asthma. Being female poses a disadvantage in terms of both asthma prevalence and control in the older adult asthmatic population owing to the prevalence of comorbidities and socioeconomic sex-related distinguishing factors