Decrease in acute coronary syndrome presentations during the COVID-19 pandemic in upstate New York

• Authors: Nabil Braiteh, Wilson Regional Medical Center; Wajeeh ur Rehman, Wilson Regional Medical Center; Md Alom, Wilson Regional Medical Center; Vincent Skovira, Wilson Regional Medical Center; Nour Breiteh, American University of Beirut; Ibraheem Rehman, Emory University; Alon Yarkoni, Wilson Regional Medical Center; Hisham Kahsou, Wilson Regional Medical Center; Afzal Rehman, Wilson Regional Medical Center
• Journal Title: AMERICAN HEART JOURNAL
• Volume: Volume 226
• Publisher: Elsevier | 2020-08-01, Pages 147-151
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2020.05.009
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Public Health
• Keywords: acute respiratory syndrome; COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction The COVID-19 virus is a devastating pandemic that has impacted the US healthcare system significantly. More than one study reported a significant decrease in acute coronary syndrome admissions during that pandemic which is still due to unknown reasons. Methods This is a retrospective non-controlled multi-centered study of 180 patients (117 males and 63 females) with acute coronary syndrome (STEMI and NSTEMI) admitted during March/April of 2019 and March/April 2020 in Upstate New York. Results A total of 113 patients (61.9% males, 38.1% females) with a mean age of 72.3 ± 14.2 presented during March/April 2019 with ACS (STEMI + NSTEMI) while only 67 (70.1% males, 29.9% females) COVID-19 negative patients with a mean age of 65.1 ± 14.5 presented during the same period (March/April) in 2020. This is a drop by 40.7% (P < .05) of total ACS cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. In NSTEMI patients, 36.4% presented late (>24 hours of symptoms) during the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison with 2019 (27.1%, P = .033). Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic led to a substantial drop by 40.7% (P < .05) of total ACS admissions in our area. This decrease in hospital admissions and late presentations can be a worrisome sign for an increase in future complications of myocardial infarctions.