Key result
COVID-19 pandemic linked to ~10% fewer treated ACS patients and delayed first medical contact.
Why the study?
The study was conducted to describe the organization and operational adaptation of the Eastern Serbia STEMI network during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect procedural volumes and time-to-treatment metrics in a regional STEMI network compared to the previous year?
Observational
How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect procedural volumes and time-to-treatment metrics in a regional STEMI network compared to the previous year?
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a 10% reduction in treated patients and significantly prolonged time to first medical contact, though rapid reorganization preserved door-to-balloon times.
Background. The aim of the study was to show the organization of Eastern Serbia STEMI network during the 2020. Methods. We analyzed and compared the results of work of the Cath Lab in 2019 to 2020. Due to the working conditions in COVID-19 pandemic measures, we have also adapted the work in our invasive cardiology department in Zajecar accordingly. The patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were diagnosed in regional hospitals of Eastern Serbia - Bor and Zajecar. Here, the initial triage was done, and the patients divided into COVID-19 negative and positive groups. The invasive cardiology department of Zajecar hospital formed three teams for management of these patients, and all of them consisted of invasive cardiology specialists, 2 medical technicians and one radiology technician. Results. The number of coronarographies was 561 in 2019. and 494 in 2020. The number of PCI procedures was 372 or 66% in 2019. and 297 or 60% of all procedures in 2022. Also, the number of stents was analyzed, so there were 395 used or 1 per procedure in 2019. and 409 or 1.3 per procedure in 2020. Elective procedures were 170 (45,70%) in 2019. and 108 (36,36%) in 2020. ACS patients comprised a number of 202 (54,30%) in 2019. and 189 (63,64%) in 2020. In 2019, the patients were admitted to hospital on average 222 min after the pain onset (time to first medical contact), transport to our facility lasted on average 81 min, and door to balloon time was 36 min. In 2020 time to first medical contact was 302 min, transport to our facility was 76 min, and door to balloon time was 26 min. Conclusions. In our department we have organized a 24/7 roll call for the management of the patients with ACS. Fast adaptation and reorganization of our work in accordance with the new circumstances and epidemiologic reality enable us to keep the same level of service for these patients in 2020 COVID-19 year. The specificity of 2020 was that there was a 10% fall in number of treated patients, along with significant prolongation of the time from pain onset to the first medical contact.
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Jolić et al. (2022) conducted an observational in Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) vs. No PCI (Elective procedures) was evaluated on Number of patients treated with PCI procedures. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a 10% fall in the number of treated ACS patients along with significant prolongation of the time from pain onset to first medical contact.
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