The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on acute coronary syndrome: Differences between epidemic waves

Introduction

Since the beginning of the COronaVIrus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, poor attention has been paid to the indirect effects of the pandemia on cardiovascular health system, in particular in patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). The aims of this study is to compare possible epidemiological, clinical and management differences between the four epidemic waves in groups of patients hospitalized for ACS with a view to highlighting the burden of the pandemic on the management of this syndrome.

Materials and methods

In this retrospective observational study we included 98 patients admitted to Coronary Intensive Care Unit (CICU) for ACS between March 2020 and March 2022, who underwent revascularization procedure using percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PCI). The patients examined were divided into four groups representative of the four epidemic waves that affected our country.

Results

The rate of hospitalization for ACS increased progressively to a 178 % increase in the third wave compared to the first (p = 0.003), with an increase of 900 % if we consider only Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI) (representing 54 % of the ACS diagnoses of the third group against 14.3 % in the first). Longer door-to-balloon times were recorded in the third wave for the increased presence of NSTEMI. The average hospital stay was lower in the third wave with 5 ± 2 days (p = 0.007) as well as mortality (5.1 % in the third wave; the highest in the fourth wave with 9.5 %).

Conclusions

The study show that the management of ACS suffered most from the indirect effects of the pandemic during the first wave, both because of the unpreparedness of hospital facilities and because of the fear of infection that has dissuaded people from asking for help.