Radostina Ilieva

• Attending cardiologist at University Hospital "Tsaritsa Yoanna – ISUL"

Background Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is often linked to central sleep apnea (CSA), a condition that exacerbates cardiovascular strain and reduces quality of life. In ADHF patients, CSA leads to recurrent nocturnal oxygen desaturation, increased apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and Cheyne-Stokes respiration episodes, all of which elevate h...

Background Atrial cardiomyopathy (AtCM) encompasses patients with diverse demographics and comorbidities. This study aimed to identify phenotype groups with similar clinical characteristics, compare their mortality and atrial fibrillation (AF) event rates, and assess predictors of mortality. Methods and Results We performed a hierarchical cluster...

Background: Managing acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is complex, particularly when combined with comorbidities like sleep apnea. Effective treatment requires personalized approaches, focusing on quality of life (QoL) and mental health outcomes. Purpose: This study explored the prevalence and characteristics of sleep apnea in patients with...

Introduction: Atrial fi brillation is the main etiological factor leading to the development of atrial cardiomyopathy (ACM). The different types of atrial fi brillation (AF) are characterized by varying severity of atrial dysfunction, symptoms, and prognosis. Objective: The aim of our study is to analyze the echocardiographic parameters of patients w...

Background: Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is often associated with central sleep apnea (CSA), which exacerbates cardiovascular strain and impacts quality of life. In ADHF patients, CSA contributes to recurrent nocturnal oxygen desaturation, elevated apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and frequent Cheyne-Stokes respiration episodes, increasing h...

Background: Arterial hypertension is the most common factor for structural and functional changes in the heart, but these changes are observed in more advanced stages and in patients with poor control of arterial hypertension. Echocardiography plays a key role in detecting these changes, but a more detailed assessment is needed to identify early ch...

The individual approach in the treatment of heart failure (HF) and personalized medicine have been the main topic in recent years in all scientific forums. The combination of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and sleep apnea (SA) further complicates the clinical presentation in patients with HF. The overlap of all three diseases requires...

Introduction: Patients with diverse demographic and clinical characteristics and comorbidities are included in the category of atrial cardiomyopathy (ACM). Aim: Our study aims to evaluate the demographic, clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic parameters of patients with ACM and to assess their impact on prognosis. Materials and methods: Only...

Background Atrial cardiomyopathy (ACM) includes patients with heterogenous demographic characteristics and comorbidities. Defining phenotype groups with similar clinical characteristics is important for the effective treatment of these patients, and for their prognosis and prevention of ACM. Purpose To conduct a cluster analysis that could help us...

Background: Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is a condition with a high frequency of hospitalizations and mortality, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common comorbidity. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy at home can be a good adjunctive non-drug therapy for these patients. Methods: We conducted a single-center, prospe...

Background: Congenital absence of pericardium is a rare cardiac disorder with a reported incidence of less than 1 in 10,000. Although most of the cases are of little clinical significance, some of them are associated with serious complications, including risk of herniation and strangulation or coronary artery compression. Detailed Case Description:...

Background: Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is synthesized by the intestinal microbiota and is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated TMAO levels across different CVD-risk patient groups, and evaluated associations between TMAO and vascular alterations (e.g., arteri...

Background The main factor responsible for atrial cardiomyopathy (ACM) is atrial fibrillation (AF). It is known that AF causes remodeling of the left atrium but its effects on the right heart chambers and mortality are not well studied. Purpose To assess the echocardiographic characteristics of patients with atrial cardiomyopathy with long-standin...

Sleep disorders are a common concomitant comorbidity in patients with heart failure. The aims of our study are to determine the incidence and phenotypic characteristics of sleep apnea in overweight patients with exacerbated heart failure and to assess the degree of involvement of systolic and diastolic function impairment in the individual group. F...

Objective: Increased arterial stiffness is an early predictor of cardiovascular changes. However the association between arterial stiffness with LV myocardial changes is poorly understoodThe aim of this study was to examine the relationship between arterial stiffness and LV function in well - controlled hypertensive patients.Methods: A total 100 c...

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. INTRODUCTION Arterial stiffness is an independent risk factor in arterial hypertension, but little is known about the association between left –heart side remodeling and arterial stiffness in middle – aged hypertensive patients. AIM The aim of our study was to assess the independence between...

Background: Telemedicine is an alternative to the standard consultation with a specialist during COVID-19 pandemic. Though their benefits are not well studied, the phone consultations are a potential effective resource for providing medical and psycho-social help to patients with chronic diseases during social isolation. Aim: To assess the demograp...

Background Aortic stenosis (AS) is increasing in incidence with the aging of the population. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) provides a therapeutic option for patients with severe AS who are high risk surgical candidates A large proportion of patients undergoind TAVI have at least mild aortic paravalvular regurgitation (APR) followin...