PLoS ONE (Jan 2023)

COVID-19 pandemic: Impact on the cardiac implantable electronic devices' implantation rates in Croatia.

  • Ivan Zeljkovic,
  • Jerko Ferri,
  • Pavao Mioc,
  • Sandro Brusich,
  • Richard Matasic,
  • Zrinka Jurisic,
  • Janko Szavits Nossan,
  • Lana Maricic,
  • Katica Cvitkusic Lukenda,
  • Vjekoslav Radeljic,
  • Nikola Pavlovic,
  • Sime Manola

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0284699
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 4
p. e0284699

Abstract

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IntroductionCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has influenced health-care organization worldwide, including management of non-communicable diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac implantable electronic devices' (CIEDs) implantation rates in Croatia.MethodsA retrospective, observational, national study was conducted. The data on CIEDs' implantation rates from 20 Croatian implantation centres, between January 2018 and June 2021, were extracted from the national Health Insurance Fund registry. Implantation rates before and after COVID-19 pandemic started, were compared.ResultsThe overall numbers of CIED implantations in Croatia during COVID-19 pandemic were not different in comparison to 2 years pre-COVID-19 time (2618 vs. 2807, p = .081). The pacemaker implantation rates decreased significantly (by 45%) during April (122 vs. 223, p ConclusionTo the authors best knowledge this is a first study including complete national data on CIED implantation rates and COVID-19 pandemic impact. A significant reduction in number of both pacemaker and ICD implants during specific months of the COVID-19 pandemic was determined. However, afterwards compensation in implants resulted in similar total number when the complete year was evaluated.