Cardiovascular Journal of Africa

Volume 35, Issue 4

The temporal relationship between body composition and cardiometabolic profiles in an HIV-infected (on antiretroviral therapy) versus HIV-free Western Cape study population

Cardiovascular risk is a health concern in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH). This longitudinal study (baseline vs 36 months) aimed to investigate the relationship between body composition and markers of cardiovascular risk in a South African study population [HIV free, n = 22 vs HIV positive on antiretroviral therapy (HIV+ART), n = 73)]. Health questionnaires, anthropometric measurements...

The role of C-reactive protein:albumin ratio and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio in predicting coronary artery disease

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS), one of the most common causes of death worldwide, is a condition characterised by ischaemia and/or infarction due to reduced coronary blood flow. The most prevalent cause of ACS is coronary artery disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between blood parameters that we commonly use in the laboratory [C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin...

Evaluation of cardiac function in paediatric Wilson’s disease patients with advanced echocardiographic modalities (strain and strain rate echocardiography)

In Wilson’s disease (WD), copper accumulation in the organs and/or damage caused by oxygen free radicals occurs due to disturbances in copper excretion. In our study, we aimed to evaluate cardiac involvement with advanced echocardiographic modalities (tissue Doppler echocardiography, strain and strain-rate echocardiography).

Comprehensive ABC (HbA1c, blood pressure, LDL-C) control and cardiovascular disease risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and major depressive disorder in a South African managed healthcare organisation

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who have suboptimal control of the triad of glucose (A), blood pressure (B) and lipid profile (C) have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Additionally, the presence of major depressive disorder (MDD) can lead to poor outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the role of MDD with ABC control in patients with T2DM in a...

The predictive value of triglyceride–glucose index for assessing the severity and MACE of premature coronary artery disease

The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of the triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index to assess the severity and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) of patients in hospital with premature coronary artery disease (PCAD). A total of 300 patients with PCAD, diagnosed by coronary angiography (CAG), were enrolled in this study.

Obesity is associated with long-term outcome of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) often exhibit cardiac dysfunction and a poor prognosis. However, the specific reasons are unclear. This study aimed to describe the impact of obesity in patients with AF and DCM. Seventy-four consecutive patients with AF and DCM were enrolled and classified by body mass index.

Correlation of osteopontin hormone with TIMI score and cardiac markers in patients with acute coronary syndrome presenting with chest pain

Rapid evaluation of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) attending the emergency service under emergency room conditions and using appropriate risk scoring would improve treatment success. Calcium levels accumulate in the tissue in people with coronary artery disease and this has been found to correlate with osteopontin levels in some studies. It is predicted that osteopontin level could...

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiac surgery outcomes

This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID19 infection on cardiac surgery outcomes in patients who contracted COVID-19 peri-operatively or had recently recovered from COVID-19. The study prospectively enrolled 95 patients scheduled for cardiac surgery who had recently recovered from COVID-19. This formed the post-COVID-19 group. The other group consisted of 25 patients who contracted COVID-19...

Association of ratios of monocyte/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and neutrophil/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol with atherosclerotic plaque type on coronary computed tomography

The monocyte/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (MHR) and neutrophil/HDL-C ratio (NHR) are markers for inflammation and dyslipidaemia, which are important factors in atherosclerosis. Studies have linked MHR and NHR to the prediction, severity and prognosis of coronary artery disease. However, no study has explored their connection to plaque stability, specifically its calcific or...