International Journal of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Diseases

Short Communication Open Access

Coronary artery fistulae in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Luke Miller , Matthew Shelly , Katelyn Graver , Nicholas Roma , Brett Cohen , Jamshid Shirani

Myocardial ischemia with multifactorial pathogenesis is frequently noted in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Coronary artery fistulas (CAF) may be found in HCM but their contribution to myocardial ischemia has not been studied. From 1984 to 2022, 43 patients with HCM and CAF (age 6–82 years, mean 58; 58% male; 77% apical variant; 12% obstructive) were reported in medical literature. Single and multiple CAF were reported in 24 (56%) and 19 (44%), respectively. Overall, a total of 70 major epicardial coronary arteries were affected. 

Int J Cardiol Cardiovasc Dis, 2026, Volume 6, Issue 1, p1-3 | DOI: 10.46439/cardiology.6.032

Review Article Open Access

Bridging the cardiac care gap in sub-Saharan Africa: from short-term medical missions to sustainable solutions 

Vibhu R. Kshettry MD , Muralidhar Kanchi MD , Dawn R. Witt PhD, MPH , Devi P. Shetty MD

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the leading causes of mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA); however, access to sustainable cardiac care remains limited. The reliance on short-term medical mission-based interventions has not addressed the critical workforce and infrastructure gaps in the region. 

Int J Cardiol Cardiovasc Dis, 2026, Volume 6, Issue 1, p11-16 | DOI: 10.46439/cardiology.6.034

Original Research Open Access

Exploring the clinical impact of hyponatremia in hospitalized heart failure patients: a nationwide inpatient analysis

Rohab Sohail, MD , Zaraq Khan, MB bCH , Haider Hussain Shah, MD , Hafsa Mansoor, MBBS , Ridda Khattak, DO

Hyponatremia, defined as a serum sodium concentration below 135 mmol/L, is the most frequent electrolyte abnormality in hospitalized patients and is particularly prevalent among those with heart failure (HF). It affects 15–30% of HF admissions and reflects advanced disease characterized by persistent congestion, heightened neurohormonal activation, and impaired renal water handling.

Int J Cardiol Cardiovasc Dis, 2026, Volume 6, Issue 1, p4-10 | DOI: