Aims To compare the baseline characteristics, pharmacological treatment, and in‐hospital outcomes across hospitalized heart failure (HF) patients with preserved LVEF (HF‐PEF) and those with reduced LVEF (HF‐REF). Method and results This was a prospective analysis of consecutive patients admitted with decompensated HF at two government hospitals in the United Arab Emirates, from 1 December 2011 to 30 November 2012. Multivariate factors of HF‐PEF vs. HF‐REF included elevated systolic blood pressure [odds ratio (OR) 1.02; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.03], heart rate (OR 0.98; 95% CI 0.97–0.99), age (OR 1.02; 95% CI 1.01–1.04), female sex (OR 2.38; 95% CI 1.41–4.03), angina or myocardial infarction (OR 0.42; 95% CI 0.25–0.71), AF (OR 1.82; 95% CI 1.05–3.15), COPD or asthma (OR 2.80; 95% CI 1.47–5.35), Charlson Comorbidity Index score (OR 0.75; 95% CI 0.64–0.88), and anaemia (OR 2.97; 95% CI 1.64–5.38). In‐hospital outcomes were similar between the two groups. However, patients with HF‐PEF were less likely to be prescribed HF medication, and used more anticoagulants and fewer antiplatelet medications. Conclusion These results suggest that patients with HF‐PEF are older, more often female, and have higher prevalence of respiratory diseases and AF. Compared with developed countries, hospitalized HF patients in the Middle East are 10 years younger and have a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus, and the majority have HF‐REF.

An otherwise healthy 32-year-old man had an in-hospital cardiac arrest with ventricular fibrillation after a few days of consuming 48 cans of alcohol-mixed energy drinks (EDs) (250-mL per can ). He had collapsed shortly after presenting to the emergency room with complaints of lack of sleep and palpitations. Normal cardiac rhythm was restored by biphasic direct current (D/C) shock. EDs generally contain mainly caffeine, taurine, and other ingredients. Especially in high doses, caffeine can cause palpitations and ventricular arrhythmias.

Soon after it was discovered in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) blow-out very fast and became a pandemic. The usual presentation is respiratory tract infection, but cardiovascular system involvement is sometimes fatal and also a serious personal and health care burden. We report a case of a 57-year-old man who was admitted with anterior wall acute myocardial infarction secondary to early coronary stent thrombosis and associated with COVID-19 infection. He was managed with primary coronary angioplasty and discharged home. Procoagulant and hypercoagulability status associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection is the most likely culprit. Choosing aggressive antithrombotic agents after coronary angioplasty to prevent stent thrombosis during the COVID-19 pandemic may be the answer but could be challenging.