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Objective: Vascular complications (VCs) contribute to increased morbidity and mortality in patients who have undergone transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI); however, studies on their incidence and predictors show conflicting results. In this study, we sought to assess the incidence, impact, and predictors of VCs in transfemoral (TF) TAVI and also investigated the predictive role of manufacturer's size charts and a new predictor modified sheath-to-femoral artery ratio. Methods: A total of 223 patients undergoing TF-TAVI were categorized into 2 groups. The patients were divided as eligible and ineligible according to the manufacturer's guidelines (MG), and the same patient cohort was dichotomized into eligible and ineligible on the basis of sheath-to-femoral artery ratio (SFAR) value of less than or greater than or equal to modified SFAR (md-SFAR). VCs (defined according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium II criteria) were retrospectively compared. Results: According to the manufacturer's size charts, 65 patients were unsuitable; however, 35 patients were ineligible for TF-TAVI per the md-SFAR criteria. Although VCs occurred in 42 (18.8%) patients, 17 (27.7%) of those patients were classified as ineligible according to MG, whereas 14 (41.2%) were classified as ineligible in the md-SFAR group. In a multiple logistic regression analysis that included md-SFAR, MG, SFAR ≥1.05, peripheral artery disease, and minimum iliofemoral artery diameter, only md-SFAR was the independent predictor of VCs (odds ratio=3.71, 95% confidence interval=1. 13-12.53, p=0.031). Conclusion: According to our results, md-SFAR might provide better patient selection to prevent VCs and improve outcomes in TF-TAVI procedures.

Aims Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is mainly a respiratory system disease, recent studies reported that cardiac injury is associated with poor outcomes in this population. There are few studies which assessed standard electrocardiogram (ECG) as a prognostic tool during the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this study is to identify the relationship between of ECG parameters and prognosis of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Method and results A total of 114 consecutive patients with a confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection between March 2020 and May 2020 were included in the study. Standard 12‑lead surface ECG was reviewed for presence of fragmented QRS (fQRS), abnormal Q wave, T wave inversion, and duration of QRS. fQRS was observed in 36.8% ( n = 42) of the patients who had SARS-CoV-2. Patient groups with and without fQRS did not differ in terms of age, gender, the presence of comorbid diseases and medical treatment. Hospitalization duration, intensive care unit(ICU) requirement, all-cause mortality, and cardiac mortality were found to be higher in patients with fQRS (all p values <0.05). There was a positive correlation between QRS duration and duration of hospital stay ( p < 0.001, r = 0.421). QRS duration was also found to be associated with intensive care need, all-cause mortality, and cardiac mortality. Conclusion Our data shows that QRS duration and the presence of fQRS on standard ECG can help to identify patients with worse clinical outcome admitted for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Objective: Diabetes is a serious health problem worldwide that leads to high morbidity and mortality rates. The current study was conducted to determine the knowledge levels and attitudes of diabetic patients about their disease. Methods: The population of this cross-sectional study comprised type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients who presented to the outpatient internal disease polyclinic of a public hospital. No sampling was done, and 335 diabetic patients who volunteered to participate and were able to communicate were included. Data were gathered using a personal information form that contained questions on the descriptive characteristics of the patients and disease features, using the Diabetes Attitude Scale (DAS), and using the face-to-face interview technique. To analyze data, percentages and arithmetic means were calculated and Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed. Results: When the knowledge levels of the patients about the disease were investigated, 70.4% of the patients did not know the organ that caused the disease and 37% did not know how often they should wash and control their foot. The mean DAS score of the patients was 3.58±0.30, and the patients developed a positive attitude about their disease. Further, there were significant differences between regular medicine use and the need for special training to provide diabetes care, blood glucose control and complications, patient autonomy, team care, and the DAS total score. Conclusion: The knowledge levels of the patients about the disease were not satisfactory, but the patients developed a positive attitude about the disease.

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