Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of myocardial perfusion imaging for the assessment of coronary artery disease: a Brazilian experience

Abstract

This study sought to evaluate the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of MPI for the assessment of CAD in a Nuclear Cardiology laboratory in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The frequency of abnormal MPI, as well as the proportion of tests with ischemia or fibrosis were not significantly different among the groups.  Abnormal MPI tests pre-lockdown was 204 and the number during lockdown - 8, the percentage of “missing” abnormal tests was of 81%. The logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR=11.4, p<0.001), the presence of at least 1 cardiac risk factor (OR=4.4, p=0.036), and known CAD (OR=5.27, p=0.02) were independent. Predictors of the performance of MPI during the lockdown period, with an inverse association with age (β= -0.053). This study reinforces the perception that in current days, and possibly for a long time, there should be continued surveillance over CAD incidence and manifestations, due to potentially missed diagnoses secondary to the COVID-19 pandemic.