Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine (Mar 2022)

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Management in Hunan Province, China: A Multi-Center Observational Study

  • Liang Tang,
  • Zhao-jun Wang,
  • Xin-qun Hu,
  • Zhen-fei Fang,
  • Zhao-fen Zheng,
  • Jian-ping Zeng,
  • Lu-ping Jiang,
  • Fan Ouyang,
  • Chang-hui Liu,
  • Gao-feng Zeng,
  • Yong-hong Guo,
  • Sheng-hua Zhou

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2022.851214
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9

Abstract

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BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) care in China.MethodsWe conducted a multicenter, retrospective cohort study in Hunan province (adjacent to the epidemic center), China. Consecutive patients presenting with STEMI within 12 h of symptom onset and receiving primary percutaneous coronary intervention, pharmaco-invasive strategy and only thrombolytic treatment, were enrolled from January 23, 2020 to April 8, 2020 (COVID-19 era group). The same data were also collected for the equivalent period of 2019 (pre-COVID-19 era group).ResultsA total of 610 patients with STEMI (COVID-19 era group n = 286, pre-COVID-19 era group n = 324) were included. There was a decline in the number of STEMI admissions by 10.5% and STEMI-related PCI procedures by 12.7% in 2020 compared with the equivalent period of 2019. The key time intervals including time from symptom onset to first medical contact, symptom onset to door, door-to-balloon, symptom onset to balloon and symptom onset to thrombolysis showed no significant difference between these two groups. There were no significant differences for in-hospital death and major adverse cardiovascular events between these two groups.ConclusionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in China, we observed a decline in the number of STEMI admissions and STEMI-related PCI procedures. However, the key quality indicators of STEMI care were not significantly affected. Restructuring health services during the COVID-19 pandemic has not significantly adversely influenced the in-hospital outcomes.

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