Browsing by Author "Pencic, Biljana (12773061100)"

We sought to investigate (1) left atrial (LA) and right atrial (RA) phasic function and mechanics; (2) heart rate variability (HRV); and (3) their relationship in untreated hypertensive patients. This cross-sectional study involved 73 untreated hypertensive patients and 51 subjects without cardiovascular risk factors with similar gender and age. All the subjects underwent a 24-hour Holter monitoring and comprehensive two-and three-dimensional echocardiography examination. LA and RA reservoir and conduit function, estimated by total and passive atrial emptying fractions and systolic and early diastolic strain rates, were reduced in the hypertensive patients. On the other hand, LA and RA booster function, assessed by active atrial emptying fraction and late diastolic strain rate, was increased in this group. All time and frequency domain heart-rate variability parameters were reduced in the hypertensive subjects. In the whole study population, parameters of cardiac sympathovagal balance (standard deviation of all normal RR intervals, root mean square of the difference between the coupling intervals of adjacent R-R intervals, 24-hour low-frequency domain [0.04-0.15 Hz], 24-hour high-frequency domain [0.15-0.40 Hz], and 24-hour total power [0.01-0.40 Hz]) correlated with LA and RA volume indexes, biatrial booster function assessed by active emptying fraction, biatrial longitudinal function evaluated by longitudinal strain; and biatrial expansion index. LA and RA phasic function and mechanics are significantly impaired in the untreated hypertensive patients. Heart-rate variability parameters are also deteriorated in the hypertensive population. Biatrial function and mechanics correlated with cardiac autonomic nervous system indexes in the whole study population. © 2014 American Society of Hypertension. All rights reserved.

To assess the presence of subclinical left ventricular myocardial dysfunction in subjects with high-normal blood pressure (BP) and untreated arterial hypertension, using three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography strain analysis. This cross-sectional study included 49 subjects with optimal BP, 50 subjects with high-normal BP, and 50 newly diagnosed untreated hypertensive patients matched by gender and age. All the subjects underwent 24 h blood pressure monitoring and complete two-dimensional and 3D echocardiography examination. The enrolled subjects were grouped according to 24 h systolic BP values, dividing the subjects with optimal BP from those with high-normal BP and the hypertensive patients (cut-off values were 120 and 130 mmHg, respectively). 3D global longitudinal strain was significantly lower in the high-normal BP group and the hypertensive patients, in comparison with the optimal BP group (-20.5 ± 3.3 vs. -18.7 ± 2.8 vs. -17.6 ± 2.7 %, p < 0.001). Similar results were obtained for 3D global circumferential strain (-18.6 ± 3 vs. -17.1 ± 2.9 vs. -16 ± 2.5 %, p < 0.001), as well for 3D global radial strain (49.4 ± 9.5 vs. 44.7 ± 8.1 vs. 43.5 ± 7.8 %, p = 0.002), and global area strain (-31.2 ± 4.8 vs. -28.7 ± 4.2 vs. -27.1 ± 4.5 %, p < 0.001). LV twist was increased in the hypertensive patients in comparison with the high-normal and the optimal BP groups (10.1° ± 2.4° vs. 10.8° ± 2.6° vs. 13.8° ± 3.1°, p < 0.01), whereas untwisting rate significantly and gradually decreased from the optimal BP group, across the high-normal BP group, to the hypertensive patients (-135 ± 35 vs. -118 ± 31 vs. -102 ± 27°/s, p < 0.001). 3D echocardiography revealed that the subjects with high-normal BP suffered subclinical impairment of LV mechanics similar as the hypertensive patients. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media.

Objective. We aimed to investigate left atrial (LA) phasic function in hypertensive patients with different geometric patterns using two-dimensional (2DE) and three-dimensional (3DE) echocardiography. Methods. This cross-sectional study included 213 hypertensive subjects who underwent a complete 2DE and 3DE examination. The new updated criteria for left ventricular (LV) geometry, which consider LV mass index, LV end-diastolic diameter and relative wall thickness, were applied. According to this classification, the subjects were divided into six groups: normal geometry, concentric remodeling, eccentric non-dilated left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), concentric LVH, dilated LVH and concentric-dilated LVH. Results. 2DE and 3DE LA volumes gradually increased from normal LV geometry to concentric and concentric-dilated LVH. LA reservoir and conduit functions, estimated by 2DE and 3DE LA total and passive emptying fractions, were decreased in subjects with concentric and concentric-dilated LVH. LA booster pump function was increased in patients with concentric, dilated and concentric-dilated LVH compared to subjects with normal LV geometry. The same results regarding LA phasic function were provided by 2DE strain analysis. Concentric, dilated and non-concentric dilated LVH were associated with LA enlargement independently of main demographic and clinical features. Conclusion. LV geometric patterns significantly influence LA phasic function. Concentric and dilated LVH patterns have the most prominent negative effect on LA enlargement assessed by both 2DE and 3DE. © 2015 © 2015 Scandinavian Foundation for Cardiovascular Research.

We aimed to investigate the association between white-coat hypertension (WCH) and left atrial (LA) phasic function assessed by the volumetric and speckle tracking method. This cross-sectional study included 52 normotensive individuals, 49 subjects with WCH and 56 untreated hypertensive patients who underwent a 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring and complete two-dimensional echocardiographic examination (2DE). WCH was diagnosed if clinic blood pressure (BP) was elevated and 24-h BP was normal. We obtained that maximum, minimum LA and pre-A LAV volumes and volume indexes gradually and significantly increased from the normotensive subjects, throughout the white-coat hypertensive individuals to the hypertensive patients. Passive LA emptying fraction (EF), representing the LA conduit function, gradually reduced from normotensive to hypertensive subjects. Active LA EF and the parameter of the LA booster pump function increased in the same direction. Similar results were obtained by 2DE strain analysis. The LA stiffness index gradually increased from normotensive controls, throughout white-coat hypertensive subjects to hypertensive patients. Clinic systolic BP was associated with LA passive EF (β= −0.283, p = 0.001), LA active EF (β = 0.342, p < 0.001), LA total longitudinal strain (β= −0.356, p < 0.001), LA positive longitudinal strain (β= −0.264, p = 0.009) and LA stiffness index (β = 0.398, p < 0.001) without regard to age, BMI, left ventricular structure and diastolic function in the whole study population. In the conclusion, WCH significantly impacts LA phasic function and stiffness. Clinic systolic BP was associated with functional and mechanical LA remodeling in the whole study population. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Background: The aim of the current study was to investigate the predictive value of a multidirectional LV strain on adverse outcomes in a large population of uncomplicated hypertensive patients who were followed for a mean period of 10 years. Methods: This retrospective study included 591 recently diagnosed hypertensive patients who underwent clinically indicated echocardiography between January 2010 and December 2014 and were followed for a mean period of 10 years. Global longitudinal, circumferential and radial strains (GLS, GCS and GRS) were measured by 2D speckle tracking imaging. The primary outcome was a MACE occurrence defined by all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, coronary artery by-pass, coronary stent implantation, stroke, development of heart failure and the occurrence of atrial fibrillation during follow-up. Results: Our results showed that GLS, GCS and GRS were significantly lower in patients who experienced MACE. Age, male gender, systolic blood pressure, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and left atrial enlargement (LAE) were associated with MACE occurrence. Reduced GLS [OR 1.15; 95%CI: 1.01–1.30] and reduced GCS [OR 1.1; 95%CI: 1.02–1.22] were related with MACE independently of clinical characteristics, LV systolic and diastolic function, as well as LVH. Reduced GRS was not independently associated with adverse outcomes. Conclusions: Reduced GLS and GCS were independently associated with adverse outcomes during 10-year follow-up in patients who were recently diagnosed and uncomplicated hypertensive patients at the baseline. © 2024 by the authors.

Aims: To examine the prognostic value of admission (A) and discharge (D) haemoglobin (Hb) and its relationship with N-terminal pro-hormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients hospitalised for acute heart failure (AHF). The outcomes of interests were rehospitalisation or death after one, six or twelve months after discharge. Methods: 317 hospitalised AHF patients (74.7±9.4 years) were enrolled in two academic centres in Belgrade and Rome. Laboratory analyses, including NT-proBNP were assessed at admission, and Hb also at discharge. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of anaemia. Follow-up contact was made by telephone. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software version 21.0. Results: According to A and DHb levels (<120 g/l for women and <130 g/l for men), anaemia was present in 55% and 62% of patients, respectively (P=0.497). Lower DHb was associated with the rehospitalisation risk after one (OR=0.96, P=0.004), six (OR=0.97, P<0.001) and 12 months (OR=0.97, P<0.001). For every g/l decrease of DHb, the risk of rehospitalisation after one year was increased by 3.3%. In the first six months, DHb contributed to increased risk of death (OR=0.97, P=0.005), but NT-proBNP showed greater power (OR=2.1, P<0.001). Conclusions: In AHF patients discharge anaemia is a strong predictor for short and long-term rehospitalisation, while NT-proBNP seems to be a better predictor for mortality. Discharge Hb and NT-proBNP should be assessed together in order to detect the patients with higher risk of future death and rehospitalisation. © 2015, © The European Society of Cardiology 2015.