Heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is defined as heart failure symptoms and signs with a normal or near-normal ejection fraction (EF) with evidence of diastolic dysfunction. The few Middle Eastern studies that have been conducted were designed to compare patients with heart failure reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and HFpEF.The aim of this study was to study Saudi patients with HFpEF who presented with acute heart failure, and define their clinical characteristics and the signs and symptoms of heart failure, echocardiographic findings and medications at admission and at hospital discharge.MethodsThis is a prospective observational study in which patients were included following an acute heart failure presentation with N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) > 300 ng/L and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) > 50%. They were admitted to the coronary care unit of king Saud medical city from the period of March 2015 to September 2015.Results114 patients were enrolled in the study and assessed at acute admission. Of these, 4% died on day one of admission.The mean ± SD age of 109 included patients was 59 ± 8 years and 55% were women. Hypertension (64%), dyslipidemia (76%), atrial tachyarrhythmia (38%), prior heart failure (33%) and anemia (35%), median NT-proBNP was 2490 ± 125 ng/l at admission. Mean (LVEF) was 61 ± 3, mean LV mass index was 118 ± 11, mean E/e′ was 12.2 ± 2, and left atrial volume index was 47 ± 7 mL/m2. Mean global left ventricular strain was −13.5 ± 1.5. At discharge the majority of patients were still symptomatic with high NT-proBNP 542 ± 266.ConclusionsPatients with HFpEF were old with slight female dominance, a high rate of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and much comorbidity. LVEF was preserved despite depressed left ventricular longitudinal and diastolic functions with high filling pressure. At discharge the patients were still symptomatic calling for further research to reach the best strategy for proper management.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is characterised by a concentration of infection inside the heart; it is caused by a bacterial or fungal infection of the endocardial surface of the heart; and it is linked with substantial morbidity and death.The aim of this research was to assess serum ferritin as an admission predictor of in-hospital prognosis in subjects with IE. Methods: This case control researchincluded60subjects diagnosed with IEon the basis of the modified duke's criteria.Subjects were allocated equally into two groups: group I: IE subjects who were further subdivided into two groups based on presence or absence of major adverse cardiovascular events   (subgroup A: 19 patients who showed IE complications or major adverse cardiac events during hospitalization and subgroup B: 11 patients who showed a smooth course during hospitalization without major adverse cardiac events or IE complications) and IE subjects as well as age and sex matched 30 healthy subjects. Results: serum ferritin level were significantly increased in group I than group II (P value<0.05). Serum ferritin level was significantly increased in subgroup A than subgroup B (P value<0.001). serum ferritin can significantly predict bad outcome (P value<0.001) with AUC of 0.964 (95% CI: 0.881 – 0.995). At cut off >1200, serum ferritin can significantly predict bad outcome with 94.44% sensitivity, 92.86% specificity, 85% PPV and 97.5% NPV. Conclusions: Serum ferritin was significantly increased in IE subjects who experiencedproblems on admission as compared to IE subjects who didn’t.

Background: Hypertension is considered as the silent killer of human because the hypertensive patient may be not aware that he has hypertension and death can occur at any time without the reason being known. We aim to study the effect of gray zone hypertension [SBP from 120-139] and or [DBP from 80-89] which was classified as prehypertension under JNC-7 on the structure, geometry, and operation of the left ventricle using echocardiography Methods: This study included 100 patients who asymptomatic apparent healthy subjects visited cardiology outpatient department (OPD) for routine checkup. Patients were grouped into two equal groups: Group A whose blood pressure was in the gray zone hypertension [SBP from 120-139] and or [DBP from 80-89], and group B with SBP <120 mmHg & DBP <80 mmHg. Results: The two groups being studied were statistically significant different as regard LV geometrical pattern (p=0.028). They were also statistically significant in LV geometrical pattern between the males and females (p<0.05). The two groups were statistically significant different regarding GLS (p =0.001). Conclusions: Gray zone hypertension affects ventricular diastolic function and LV geometry, although systolic function was normal; GLS showed that subclinical LV dysfunction can occur.

Background: Coronary artery disease is considered a major cause of death in both male and female subjects in the developed world and carries a risk of several complications. Multiple scores have been developed in order to set risk stratification and predict the outcomes for ischemic patients. Another scores have been developed in order to assess the severity of the coronary arteries lesions. Methods: The prospective cross sectional cohort study included 68 consecutive patients with STEMI; they were divided into two groups based on the shock index at presentation. Group A: included 43 patients with SI ˂0.7. Group B: included 25 patients with SI ˃ 0.7. All participants were subjected to trans-thoracic echocardiography, PPCI, SYNTAX score calculation and follow up during the hospitalization period. Results: There was a significant myocardial damage in group B supported by the reduced LVEF and elevated serum troponin at presentation. There was a significant more coronary artery lesion severity in group B as assessed by the SYNTAX score. As regard in-hospital outcomes, patients in group B had the worst outcomes during the hospitalization period. Conclusions: Shock index is a useful and quick tool to predict the severity of the underling coronary artery disease and correlate with the SYNTAX score in patients with STEMI. Shock index is a good indicator of the hemodynamics and the extent of myocardial damage. Shock index is a quick bedside tool with a good prediction value for the in-hospital outcomes in STEMI patients undergoing PPCI.

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