Key result
COVID-19 pandemic linked to fewer ED presentations for HF and MI during 2020.
Why the study?
It was important to understand whether changes in acute cardiac ED visits occurred in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Did the COVID-19 pandemic impact acute cardiac-related ED presentation rates compared to non-pandemic time periods?
Did the COVID-19 pandemic impact acute cardiac-related ED presentation rates compared to non-pandemic time periods?
The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a significant decline in emergency department presentations for heart failure and myocardial infarction during 2020.
Signals potential missed acute cardiac events in future outbreaks; extends observational data via systematic synthesis of pandemic effects.
BACKGROUND: Acute cardiac conditions require timely assessment and management to optimise patient outcomes. It is important to understand whether changes in acute cardiac ED visits occurred in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: To provide a comprehensive synthesis of published articles regarding the impact of the pandemic on acute cardiac-related ED presentations in terms of rates, patient demographics, ED clinical characteristics, and outcomes. METHODS: A scoping review using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology was undertaken. Four databases (Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, and the Public Health Database (ProQuest)) were searched for articles published in English between 1 January 2020 and 30 April 2022 that reported on acute cardiac-related ED presentation rates, comparing COVID-19 pandemic and non-pandemic time periods, for adult patients (18 years and over), and demographics, and/or presentation characteristics, and/or outcomes. RESULTS: Sixteen articles met the inclusion criteria. There was a significant decline in ED presentations for heart failure and myocardial infarction during 2020. Demographic, presentation characteristics and outcomes were inconsistently reported. CONCLUSION: While there is variation and heterogeneity in the current available evidence, this data is helpful for informing clinicians and policy makers for future pandemics as well as providing a reference point for COVID-19 related research.
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Hall et al. (2025) conducted a review in Acute cardiac conditions (n=16). COVID-19 pandemic vs. Non-pandemic time periods was evaluated on Acute cardiac-related ED presentation rates. The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a significant decline in emergency department presentations for heart failure and myocardial infarction during 2020.
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