The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the presentation and hospital management of STEMI patients in a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 Pandemic has put enormous pressure on the healthcare system globally, causing many healthcare organizations to cancel elective admission for coronary angiograms. The purpose of this study is to assess changes in ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) practice, including the number of patients, door to balloon time and time from the onset of symptoms until reperfusion therapy in a tertiary center in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This is a single center retrospective observational study, comparing all STEMI patients in the last five months of 2019 (Pre-COVID-19 period) with the first 5 months of 2020 (COVID -19 period) in regards to the volume of STEMI patients, symptoms onset to ER arrival time, door to balloon timing and the reperfusion therapy strategy. RESULTS: A total number of 173 STEMI patients were analyzed; 81 STEMI patients in the Pre-COVID-19 period and 92 STEMI patients in the COVID-19 period. When compared with pre-COVID period, there was a statistically non-significant increase in STEMI patients (12%), slight delay in the door to balloon timing; 94 vs 87 minutes. As well, there was more delay from onset of symptoms to presentation to the ER (>12 hours from symptoms onset to ER arrival (16% vs, 4% in group 1). Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) was the main modality between the 2 groups without significant differences (100% Pre-COVID vs. 97% COVID-19 period). CONCLUSION: There was some delay of STEMI patient's presentation to the hospital during Covid-19 timing, without significant changes in the medical practice of care.