Aims  The aim of this study was to determine the contemporary use of reperfusion therapy in the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) member and affiliated countries and adherence to ESC clinical practice guidelines in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods and results  Prospective cohort (EURObservational Research Programme STEMI Registry) of hospitalized STEMI patients with symptom onset <24 h in 196 centres across 29 countries. A total of 11 462 patients were enrolled, for whom primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (total cohort frequency: 72.2%, country frequency range 0–100%), fibrinolysis (18.8%; 0–100%), and no reperfusion therapy (9.0%; 0–75%) were performed. Corresponding in-hospital mortality rates from any cause were 3.1%, 4.4%, and 14.1% and overall mortality was 4.4% (country range 2.5–5.9%). Achievement of quality indicators for reperfusion was reported for 92.7% (region range 84.8–97.5%) for the performance of reperfusion therapy of all patients with STEMI <12 h and 54.4% (region range 37.1–70.1%) for timely reperfusion. Conclusions  The use of reperfusion therapy for STEMI in the ESC member and affiliated countries was high. Primary PCI was the most frequently used treatment and associated total in-hospital mortality was below 5%. However, there was geographic variation in the use of primary PCI, which was associated with differences in in-hospital mortality.

Background. The International Society of Hypertension and World Hypertensive League therefore joined forces to organize a concerted global effort by expanding World Hypertension Day to May Measurement Month 2017 (MMM17). The campaign was aimed to improve hypertension awareness and blood pressure control in participants with hypertension. Russian Society of Cardiology supported initiative — blood pressure measurement was performed in 11 Russian cities.Objective. The aim of our study was to estimate Russian population awareness about blood pressure in terms of campaign MMM17.Design and methods. During May 2017 we screened 1532 participants in 11 Russian cities: St Petersburg (119 participants), Moscow (102), Belgorod (28), Bryansk (405), Kemerovo (142), Krasnoyarsk (154), Samara (67), Saratov (59), Stavropol (269), Ulyanovsk (50), Surgut (137). All subjects participated voluntarily. Inclusion criteria was age age older than 18 years old. Blood pressure (BP) was measured three times with automated and manual sphygmomanometers. Questionnaire regarding diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, smoking and alcohol intake was filled in. Respondents provided information about weight and height.Results. We examined 1532 participants aged 39,3 ± 18,7 years (from 18 to 90 years old), among them 509 (33,2 %) males and 1023 (66,8 %) females. All participants were divided into 3 groups according to the date of the last BP measurement: group 1 — BP has never been checked before (n = 188, 12,3 %), group 2 — less than one year ago (n = 630, 41,1 %), group 3 — more than one year ago (n = 714, 46,6 %).Conclusions. About half of Russian participants checked blood pressure last time more than one year ago. Insufficient awareness, low compliance to antihypertensive medication and poor blood pressure control were found in Russian population independently of gender and age in both primary and secondary prevention.

The management of these patients requires healthcare professionals to have specific knowledge on the characteristics of the viral infection, its clinical signs and symptoms combined with cardiovascular diseases, as well as individual and collective prevention measures. The safety of healthcare professionals and favorable prognosis of patients are of the top priority for the modern healthcare system.The review discusses current challenges associated with the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19 and cardiovascular diseases. The results of few clinical trials and individual case reports have shown the presence of certain problems in treating patients with comorbidity and viral infection. The new data on the drug interactions are reported. Common patterns of typical cardiovascular diseases and COVID-19 are presented. The risk groups with the need for timely diagnosis and intensive cardiac care are identified to prevent adverse outcomes in patients with this comorbidity.

Международное общество по артериальной гипертензии и Мировая антигипертензивная лига организовали скрининговое исследование по измерению артериального давления (АД) под названием MMM19 -MAY MEASUREMENT MONTH 2019 для улучшения выявления повышенного АД и оценки контроля АД у пациентов с артериальной гипертензией (АГ). Цель. Определить приверженность к лечению российского населения по результатам скрининга АГ в рамках международной акции МММ19. Материал и методы. В течение мая 2019г в скрининге приняли участие 5394 человека из 21 региона России. Участие в акции было добровольным без ограничения по полу, возраст старше 18 лет. Во время скрининга трехкратно измерялось АД с помощью автоматических и механических тонометров, заполнялся опросник о наличии сахарного диабета, сердечно-сосудистых осложнений в анамнезе, курении и употреблении алкоголя. Также получена информация о дате последнего контроля АД и приеме статинов, ацетилсалициловой кислоты и антигипертензивных препаратов. Информация о росте и массе тела была получена со слов респондентов. Результаты. В анализ были включены данные 5274 пациентов в возрасте от 18 до 96 лет, из них 1834 мужчин (34,8%). Медиана возраста -25 лет, квартили -20 и 49 лет. Пропорция пациентов с АГ по результатам МММ19 в российской выборке составила 31,9%, а при исключении участников младше 25 лет -51,5%. Пациенты с АГ старше 25 лет принимают антигипертензивную терапию (АГТ) в 73,6%, при этом 38,6% пропускают прием препаратов, а достигают целевого уровня АД <130/80 мм рт.ст. только 11,8% мужчин и 17,2% женщин. Даже при использовании 4-5 антигипертензивных препаратов, только 20-30% участников акции достигали целевого уровня АД. Заключение. По результатам скрининга МММ19 в России лишь треть пациентов высокого риска измеряли АД в течение последних 12 мес., наблюдается низкая приверженность к приему АГТ и недостаточный контроль АГ. Более склонны к регулярному приему гипотензивных средств пациенты с АГ, имеющие в анамнезе сердечно-сосудистые осложнения.Ключевые слова: скрининг, артериальная гипертензия, артериальное давление, приверженность, осведомленность. Отношения и деятельность: нет.

Background. Acute coronary syndrome remains the leading cause of death worldwide. The rupture of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque in the coronary artery is a common pathogenetic mechanism contributing to the onset of acute coronary syndrome. Therefore, one of the main goals of the practical cardiology is to ensure the development of sensitive early diagnostic methods and set preventive and treatment strategies for acute coronary event. Aim To evaluate the incidence of vulnerable plaques in the non-target coronary arteries in patients with stable coronary artery disease.Methods. 58 patients with stable coronary artery disease were included in a prospective observational cohort study. After the target vessel had been stented, virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) of the proximal and middle segments (6–8 cm) of one non-target artery (i.e. without any significant stenotic lesions on coronary angiography) was performed.Results. The mean age of patients was 60.4±6.6 years. In addition to the targeted hemodynamically significant lesions subjected to stenting, 56 patients had 58 lesions (96.5%) in the non-target coronary arteries. Of them, 5 lesions (8.6%) were with >70% luminal stenosis (including >70% luminal stenosis + lumen area <4 mm2 in 4 cases), 10 lesions (17.2%) – with minimum lumine area <4 mm2 and without any other signs of vulnerable plaque, 12 lesions (20.7%) – with a large necrotic core and a thin cap (including thin-cap fibroatheroma + >70% luminal stenosis in 2 patients; thin-cap fibroatheroma + lumen area <4 mm2 – 2 cases, thin-cap fibroatheroma + >70% luminal stenosis + lumen area <4 mm2 – 2 cases).Conclusion. In vivo evaluation of the plaques in the non-target vessels ensures the detection of vulnerable plaques in stable patients. The long-term follow-up of the study group allows assessing the risk of developing adverse cardiovascular events in those patients who have vulnerable coronary plaques.