Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a common problem amongst diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) patients, associated with peripheral arterial disease. This analytic cross-sectional study investigates the diagnostic efficacy of the Toe Brachial Index (TBI) in the detection of CAD in 62 DFS patients. The presence of CAD was assessed by longitudinal strain echocardiography, a sensitive method that provides a more accurate measure of intrinsic left ventricular contractility than left ventricular ejection fraction, especially in diabetic patients. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression identified CAD-associated factors. Receiver operating characteristic curve evaluated TBI and toe pressure's diagnostic performance for CAD. p-Values < 0.05 were considered significant. There was a significant association between TBI and CAD, with each 0.01 increase in TBI associated with a 15% decrease in the odds of CAD development (odds ratio = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.72–0.99, p = 0.039). TBI demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.854, a sensitivity of 80.0% and a specificity of 66.7% at a cut-off of 0.69. Additionally, toe pressure exhibited an area under the curve of 0.845, sensitivity of 74.0% and specificity of 75.0% at a cut-off of 68.0 mmHg. Overall accuracy for TBI and toe pressure was 77.4% and 74.2%, respectively, indicating their potential for CAD risk stratification in the DFS population. This study highlights a significant association between low TBI and the presence of CAD in DFS patients. Consequently, TBI emerges as a valuable screening tool for identifying CAD within this population.
Burn survivors experience profound physiological changes following injury, which may have lasting implications for cardiovascular health. This study aims to investigate the cardiovascular risk profile among burn survivors treated at a burn center in northern Iran. This observational study was conducted from 2022 to 2023 at the burn centre affiliated with Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. This study assessed a cohort study of 210 burn survivors, focusing on individuals with ≥20% TBSA burn injuries who had recovered and returned to their daily lives. This study assessed patients' lipid profiles, Framingham General Cardiovascular Risk Score (FGCRS) and risk factors, including demographics, clinical variables and physical activity. Statistical analysis employed descriptive and inferential statistics. The mean age was 49.23 years, and the mean TBSA burned was 37.06%. The risk of cardiovascular disease in 66% of the study population was less than 10%, and in 13%, it was more than 20%. Significant associations were identified between CVD risk and sex, diabetes, hypertension, BMI, TBSA burned, years after burn, physical activity level and LDL. Of the lipid profile measures, LDL, triglycerides and TC/HDL exceeded the desirable levels. This research highlights the heightened cardiovascular risk in burn survivors, emphasizing the necessity for targeted interventions and regular monitoring. Identifying modifiable risk factors enables healthcare practitioners to develop tailored strategies, enhancing cardiovascular health in this vulnerable population and improving overall outcomes and quality of life.
The chronic venous disease covers a wide spectrum of venous disorders that are characterized by severely impaired blood return that primarily affects veins in the lower extremities. Morphological and functional abnormalities of the venous system led to chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), and present as leg heaviness/achiness, edema, telangiectasia, and varices. The term ‘chronic venous insufficiency’ (CVI) refers to a disease of greater severity. Venous dysfunction is associated with venous hypertension and is associated with venous reflux due to poorly functioning or incompetent venous valves, which ultimately reduces venous return, leading to a cascade of morphological, physiological, and histologic abnormalities such as blood pooling, hypoxia, inflammation, swelling, skin changes (lipodermatosclerosis), and in severe cases, venous leg ulcers (VLU). This review summarizes recent knowledge about the aetiology, risk factors, and pathophysiology of VLU and compared the possibilities of their treatment.