The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a significant reduction in overall ACS admissions compared to the pre-pandemic period (40.66% vs 59.32% of total admissions, p=0.0109).
Observational (n=182)
No
Does the COVID-19 pandemic reduce ACS-related admissions and PCI procedures in an urban academic hospital in South Africa?
The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a significant decline in overall ACS admissions, particularly for unstable angina, but did not affect the proportion of patients undergoing PCI at an urban academic hospital in South Africa.
Absolute Event Rate: 40.66% vs 59.32%
p-value: p=0.0109
Introduction: recent worldwide data has shown a concerning decline in the number of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) related admissions and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We suspected a similar trend at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (CHBAH). Methods: a retrospective descriptive study was conducted to evaluate and compare all ACS-related admissions to the cardiac care unit (CCU) at CHBAH in the pre-COVID-19 (November 2019 to March 2020) and during COVID-19 periods (April 2020 to August 2020). Results: the study comprised 182 patients with a mean age of 57.9 ±10.9 years (22.5% females). Of these, 108 (59.32%) patients were admitted in the pre-COVID-19 period and 74 (40.66%) during COVID-19 (p=0.0109). During the pre-COVID-19 period, 42.9% of patients had ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), 39.2% with non-ST-segment -elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and unstable angina (UA) was noted in 18.52%. In contrast, STEMI was noted in 50%, NSTEMI in 43.24% and UA in 6.76% of patients during the COVID-19 period. A statistically significant difference in STEMI and NSTEMI-related admissions was not noted, however, there was a greater number of admissions for UA during the pre-COVID-19 period (18.52% vs 6.76%, P =0.013). Only a third of the patients with STEMI received thrombolysis during the pre-and COVID-19 periods (30.4% vs 37.8%, P=0.47). No difference in the number of PCI procedures was noted between the pre-and during the COVID-19 periods (78.7% vs 72.9%, P=0.37). Conclusion: there was a difference in overall ACS admissions to the CCU between pre-and during COVID-19 periods, however no difference between STEMI and NSTEMI in both periods. A higher number of UA admissions was noted during the pre-COVID-19 period. During both periods, the use of thrombolysis was low for STEMI and no difference in PCI was noted.
Leon et al. (Mon,) conducted a observational in Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (n=182). COVID-19 pandemic period vs. Pre-COVID-19 period was evaluated on Overall ACS-related admissions (p=0.0109). The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a significant reduction in overall ACS admissions compared to the pre-pandemic period (40.66% vs 59.32% of total admissions, p=0.0109).