Incidence and outcome of myocardial infarction treated with percutaneous coronary intervention during COVID-19 pandemic

Continued decline in the incidence of myocardial infarction beyond the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide study of the Swedish population aged 60 and older during 2015-2022

The number of myocardial infarctions declined during the early COVID-19 pandemic but mechanisms behind these declines are poorly understood. COVID-19 infection is also associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction which could lead to higher incidence rates in the population. This study aims to shed light on the seemingly paradoxical relationship between COVID-19 and myocardial infarction occurrence on the population level by exploring long-term trends in incidence rates, case fatality, and proportion of patients dying before reaching a hospital. Our work is based on a linkage of administrative registers covering the entire population aged 60 + in Sweden. Considering both long-term trends since 2015 and seasonal variability, we compared observed incidence, case fatality, and proportions of patients hospitalized to expected values during 2020-2022. Despite more than 200 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases per 1000 inhabitants by the end of 2022, incidence rates of myocardial infarction continued to decline, thus following the long-term trend observed already before 2020. During the first pandemic wave there was an additional incidence decline corresponding to 13% fewer myocardial infarctions than expected. This decline was neither accompanied by increasing case fatality nor by lower shares of patients being hospitalized. We found no increase in the population-level incidence of myocardial infarction despite large-scale exposure to COVID-19, which suggests that the effect of COVID-19 on myocardial infarction risk is not substantial. Increased pressure on the Swedish health care system has not led to increased risks or poorer outcomes for patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction.

Effect of COVID-19 on cardiac surgery volumes in Sweden

Objectives. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which commenced in 2020, is known to frequently cause respiratory failure requiring intensive care, with occasional fatal outcomes. In this study, we aimed to conduct a retrospective nationwide observational study on the influence of the pandemic on cardiac surgery volumes in Sweden. Results. In 2020, 9.4% (n = 539) fewer patients underwent open-heart operations in Sweden (n = 5169) than during 2019 (n = 5708), followed by a 5.8% (n = 302) increase during 2021 (n = 5471). The reduction was greater than 15% in three of the eight hospitals in Sweden performing open-heart operations. Compared to 2019, in 2020, the waiting times for surgery were longer, and the patients were slightly younger, had better renal function, and a lower European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation; moreover, few patients had a history of myocardial infarction. However, more patients had insulin-treated diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, reduced left ventricular function, and elevated pulmonary artery pressure. Urgent procedures were more common, but acute surgery was less common in 2020 than in 2019. Early mortality and postoperative complications were low and did not differ during the three years. Conclusion. The 9.4% decrease in the number of heart surgeries performed in Sweden during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, compared to 2019, partially recovered during 2021; however, there was no backlog of patients awaiting heart surgery.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delayed care of cardiovascular diseases in Europe: a systematic review

AIMS

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death worldwide. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted healthcare systems, causing delays in essential medical services, and potentially impacting CVD treatment. This study aims to estimate the impact of the pandemic on delayed CVD care in Europe by providing a systematic overview of the available evidence.

METHODS AND RESULTS

PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched until mid-September 2022 for studies focused on the impact of delayed CVD care due to the pandemic in Europe among adult patients. Outcomes were changes in hospital admissions, mortality rates, delays in seeking medical help after symptom onset, delays in treatment initiation, and change in the number of treatment procedures. We included 132 studies, of which all were observational retrospective. Results were presented in five disease groups: ischaemic heart diseases (IHD), cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), cardiac arrests (CA), heart failures (HF), and others, including broader CVD groups. There were significant decreases in hospital admissions for IHD, CVA, HF and urgent and elective cardiac procedures, and significant increases for CA. Mortality rates were higher for IHD and CVA.

CONCLUSION

The pandemic led to reduced acute CVD hospital admissions and increased mortality rates. Delays in seeking medical help were observed, while urgent and elective cardiac procedures decreased. Adequate resource allocation, clear guidelines on how to handle care during health crises, reduced delays, and healthy lifestyle promotion should be implemented. The long-term impact of pandemics on delayed CVD care, and the health-economic impact of COVID-19 should be further evaluated.

Impact of COVID-19 on Acute Myocardial Infarction Care

The global health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved rapidly to overburden health care organizations around the world and has resulted in significant morbidity and mortality. Many countries have reported a substantial and rapid reduction in hospital admissions for acute coronary syndromes and percutaneous coronary intervention. The reasons for such abrupt changes in health care delivery are multifactorial and include lockdowns, reduction in outpatient services, reluctance to seek medical attention for fear of contracting the virus, and restrictive visitation policies adopted during the pandemic. This review discusses the impact of COVID-19 on important aspects of acute MI care.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the hospitalizations, time course, presenting symptoms, and mid-term outcomes in patients with myocardial infarctions in a Japanese multi-center registry

To investigate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on myocardial infarctions (MIs), consecutive MI patients were retrospectively reviewed in a multi-center registry. The patient characteristics and 180-day mortality for both ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMIs) and non-STEMIs (NSTEMIs) in the after-pandemic period (7 April 2020-6 April 2021) were compared to the pre-pandemic period (7 April 2019-6 April 2020). Inpatients with MIs, STEMIs, and NSTEMIs decreased by 9.5%, 12.5%, and 4.1% in the after-pandemic period. The type of the presenting symptoms (as classified as typical symptoms, atypical symptoms, and out-of-hospital cardiac arrests [OHCAs]) did not differ between the two time periods for both STEMIs and NSTEMIs, while the rate of OHCAs was numerically higher in the after-pandemic period for the STEMIs (12.1% vs. 8.0%, p = 0.30). The symptom-to-admission time (STAT) did not differ between the two time periods for both STEMIs and NSTEMIs, but the door-to-balloon time (DTBT) for STEMIs was significantly longer in the after-pandemic period (83.0 [67.0-100.7] min vs. 70.0 [59.0-88.7] min, p = 0.004). The 180-day mortality did not significantly differ between the two time periods for both STEMIs (15.9% vs. 11.4%, p = 0.14) and NSTEMIs (9.9% vs. 8.0%, p = 0.59). In conclusion, hospitalizations for MIs decreased after the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the DTBTs were significantly longer in the after-pandemic period, the mid-term outcomes for MIs were preserved.

Two-year prognosis of acute coronary syndrome during the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

BACKGROUND

The first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic significantly changed behaviour in terms of access to healthcare.

AIM

To assess the effects of the pandemic and initial lockdown on the incidence of acute coronary syndrome and its long-term prognosis.

METHODS

Patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome from 17 March to 6 July 2020 and from 17 March to 6 July 2019 were included. The number of admissions for acute coronary syndrome, acute complication rates and 2-year rates of survival free from major adverse cardiovascular events or death from any cause were compared according to the period of hospitalization.

RESULTS

In total, 289 patients were included. We observed a 30±3% drop in acute coronary syndrome admissions during the first lockdown, which did not recover in the 2months after it was lifted. At 2years, there were no significant differences in the combined endpoint of major adverse cardiovascular events or death from any cause between the different periods (P=0.34). Being hospitalized during lockdown was not predictive of adverse events during follow-up (hazard ratio 0.87, 95% confidence interval 0.45-1.66; P=0.67).

CONCLUSIONS

We did not observe an increased risk of major cardiovascular events or death at 2years from initial hospitalization for patients hospitalized during the first lockdown, adopted in March 2020 in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, potentially as a result of the lack of power of the study.

Trends in Coronary and Structural Heart Interventions in Switzerland over the Last 16 Years and Impact of COVID-19: Insights from the National Swiss PCI Survey

BACKGROUND

Considering the global burden of cardiovascular disease, we analysed trends in interventional coronary and structural procedures over the past 16 years (2005-2021), using continuous data from the Swiss national registry.

METHODS

Based on a standardised questionnaire, data on coronary and structural interventions in Switzerland were assessed by the Working Group Interventional Cardiology of the Swiss Society of Cardiology (SSC). Here, we analysed the trend of annually performed interventions from 2005 to 2021 in Switzerland and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

RESULTS

We observed a constant increase in the total number of cases (including coronary angiographies (CA) and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI)) from 36,436 cases in 2005 to 56,555 cases in 2021 (+55%). With 18 cases in 2007, TAVI procedures have increased to 2004 cases in 2021. During the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a slight decrease in CAs and PCIs of 9.15% was observed. In contrast, we did not observe an impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number of no TAVI procedures. Most importantly, all cause in-hospital mortality for coronary interventions before and during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic was comparable (1.4% vs. 1.3%).

CONCLUSION

Over a 16-year period, we observed an upward trend in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for coronary as well as structural heart disease, with only a small short-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on interventions and a similar procedure-related in-hospital-mortality in Switzerland.

The Peripandemic Impact of the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Management and Prognosis of ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in China

BACKGROUND

Rapid reperfusion of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has been challenging during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Whether and to what degree there will be a residual impact when the COVID-19 pandemic has passed is unclear.

METHODS

This nationwide retrospective study was based on electronic records of STEMI patients registered in the Chinese Cardiovascular Association Database.

RESULTS

We analyzed 141,375 STEMI patients (including 4871 patients in Hubei province, where 80% of COVID-19 cases in China occurred in 2019-2020) during the pre-outbreak (23 October 2019-22 January 2020), outbreak (23 January 2020-22 April 2020), and post-outbreak (23 April 2020-22 July 2020) periods. In the post-outbreak period in Hubei province, the increased in-hospital mortality dropped to become insignificant (adjusted odds ratio compared to the pre-outbreak level (aOR) 1.40, [95% confidential interval (CI): 0.97-2.03]) and was lower than that in the outbreak period (1.62 [1.09-2.41]). The decreased odds of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (0.73 [0.55-0.96]) and timely reperfusion (0.74 [0.62-0.88]) persisted, although they were substantially improved compared to the outbreak period (aOR of primary PCI: 0.23 [0.18-0.30] and timely reperfusion: 0.43 [0.35-0.53]). The residual impact of COVID-19 on STEMI in the post-outbreak period in non-Hubei provinces was insignificant.

CONCLUSIONS

Residual pandemic impacts on STEMI management persisted after the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in Hubei province, the earliest and hardest hit area in China.

The Challenge of High Coronary Thrombotic Events in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction and COVID-19

The aim of this observational study was to describe the characteristics and outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-positive patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), with a special focus on factors associated with a high risk of coronary thrombosis and in-hospital mortality. Comparing the two groups of patients with STEMI separated according to the presence of SARS-CoV-2 infections, it was observed that COVID-19 patients were more likely to present with dyspnea (82.43% vs. 61.41%, p = 0.048) and cardiogenic shock (10.52% vs. 5.40%, p = 0.012). A longer total ischemia time was observed in COVID-19 patients, and they were twice as likely to undergo coronary angiography more than 12 hours after the onset of symptoms (19.29% vs. 10.13%, p = 0.024). In 10 of 57 COVID-19-positive patients, a primary PCI was not necessary, and only thromboaspiration was performed (17.54% vs. 2.70%, p < 0.001). Platelet level was inversely correlated (r = −0.512, p = 0.025) with a higher risk of coronary thrombosis without an atherosclerotic lesion. Using a cut-off value of 740 ng/ml, D-dimers predicted a higher risk of coronary thrombosis, with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 66% (ROC area under the curve: 0.826, 95% CI: 0.716−0.935, p = 0.001). These are novel findings that raise the question of whether more aggressive antithrombotic therapy is necessary for selected COVID-19 and STEMI patients.

Cardiovascular disease and COVID-19, a deadly combination: A review about direct and indirect impact of a pandemic

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is known to present with respiratory symptoms, which can lead to severe pneumonia and respiratory failure. However, it can have multisystem complications such as cardiovascular manifestations. The cardiovascular manifestations reported comprise myocarditis, cardiogenic shock, arrhythmias, pulmonary embolism, deep vein embolism, acute heart failure, and myocardial infarction. There is also an indirect impact of the pandemic on the management of cardiovascular care that has been shown clearly in multiple publications. In this review, we summarize the deadly relation of COVID-19 with cardiovascular events and the wider impact on several cardiovascular care areas by the pandemic situation

The collateral damage of COVID-19 to cardiovascular services: a meta-analysis

AIMS

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on care and outcomes across non-COVID-19 cardiovascular (CV) diseases is unknown. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to quantify the effect and investigate for variation by CV disease, geographic region, country income classification and the time course of the pandemic.

METHODS AND RESULTS

From January 2019 to December 2021, Medline and Embase databases were searched for observational studies comparing a pandemic and pre-pandemic period with relation to CV disease hospitalisations, diagnostic and interventional procedures, outpatient consultations, and mortality. Observational data were synthesised by incidence rate ratios (IRR) and risk ratios (RR) for binary outcomes and weighted mean differences for continuous outcomes with 95% confidence intervals. The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021265930). A total of 158 studies, covering 49 countries and 6 continents, were used for quantitative synthesis. Most studies (80%) reported information for high-income countries (HICs). Across all CV disease and geographies there were fewer hospitalisations, diagnostic and interventional procedures, and outpatient consultations during the pandemic. By meta-regression, in low-middle income countries (LMICs) compared to HICs the decline in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) hospitalisations (RR 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66-0.94) and revascularisation (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.62-0.87) was more severe. In LMICs, but not HICs, in-hospital mortality increased for STEMI (RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.10-1.37) and heart failure (RR 1.08, 95% CI 1.04-1.12). The magnitude of decline in hospitalisations for CV diseases did not differ between the first and second wave.

CONCLUSIONS

There was substantial global collateral CV damage during the COVID-19 pandemic with disparity in severity by country income classification.

Non-COVID outcomes associated with the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic effects study (COPES): A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

As the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues, healthcare providers struggle to manage both COVID-19 and non-COVID patients while still providing high-quality care. We conducted a systematic review/meta-analysis to describe the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with non-COVID illness and on healthcare systems compared to non-pandemic epochs.

METHODS

We searched Ovid MEDLINE/EMBASE/Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews/CENTRAL/CINAHL (inception to December 31, 2020). All study types with COVID-pandemic time period (after December 31, 2019) with comparative non-pandemic time periods (prior to December 31, 2019). Data regarding study characteristics/case-mix/interventions/comparators/ outcomes (primary: mortality; secondary: morbidity/hospitalizations/disruptions-to-care. Paired reviewers conducted screening and abstraction, with conflicts resolved by discussion. Effect sizes for specific therapies were pooled using random-effects models. Risk of bias was assessed by Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, with evidence rating using GRADE methodology.

RESULTS

Of 11,581 citations, 167 studies met eligibility. Our meta-analysis showed an increased mortality of 16% during the COVID pandemic for non-COVID illness compared with 11% mortality during the pre-pandemic period (RR 1.38, 95% CI: 1.28-1.50; absolute risk difference: 5% [95% CI: 4-6%], p<0.00001, very low certainty evidence). Twenty-eight studies (17%) reported significant changes in morbidity (where 93% reported increases), while 30 studies (18%) reported no significant change (very low certainty). Thirty-nine studies (23%) reported significant changes in hospitalizations (97% reporting decreases), while 111 studies (66%) reported no significant change (very low certainty). Sixty-two studies (37%) reported significant disruptions in standards-to-care (73% reporting increases), while 62 studies (37%) reported no significant change (very low certainty).

CONCLUSIONS

There was a significant increase in mortality during the COVID pandemic compared to pre-pandemic times for non-COVID illnesses. When significant changes were reported, there was increased morbidity, decreased hospitalizations and increased disruptions in standards-of-care.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42020201256 (Sept 2, 2020).

Perceptions of delay when afflicted by an acute myocardial infarction during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

AIMS

To describe the perceptions of delay in medical care-seeking, when afflicted by an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during the first wave of the pandemic.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A qualitative descriptive study with an inductive approach. Fourteen semi-structured interviews were conducted, analysed by qualitative content analysis with a manifest approach. One category and six sub-categories emerged. The decision was reached when the health threat was perceived as critical, which made the earlier thoughts of the pandemic fade away. The risk of infection during medical visits caused fear of contracting the disease. This resulted in hesitation, neglect of symptoms, and avoidance of healthcare visits. Following recommendations from authorities and media about personal responsibility was motivated by fear, affecting the care-seeking.

CONCLUSION

It appears that the COVID-19 pandemic raised the threshold for deciding to seek medical care when presenting with an AMI. The pandemic led to increased patient delay due to several reasons among which fear of contracting the disease was prominent. The emotion of fear was related to the external threat to one's own health, due to COVID-19, and not fear of symptoms related to an AMI. The media reporting the healthcare system as overloaded increased insecurity and may have had an influence on delay.

Impact of Door-to-Balloon Time Reduction Depending on the Killip Classification in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Transported by Emergency Medical Services

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic occurred in several countries, making the conventional medical system difficult to maintain. Recent recommendations aim to prevent nosocomial infections and infections among health care workers. Therefore, establishing a cardiovascular medical system under an emergency for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is desired. This study aimed to determine the relationship between prognosis and door-to-balloon time (DBT) shortening based on the severity on arrival.This retrospective, multi-center, observational study included 1,127 consecutive patients with STEMI. These patients were transported by emergency medical services and underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Patients were stratified according to the Killip classification: Killip 1 (n = 738) and Killip ≥ 2 (n = 389) groups.Patients in the Killip ≥ 2 group were older, with more females, and more severity on arrival than those in the Killip 1 group. The 30-day mortality rate in the Killip 1 and Killip ≥ 2 groups was 2.2% and 18.0%, respectively. The Killip ≥ 2 group had a significant difference in the 30-day mortality between patients with DBT ≤ 90 minutes and those with DBT > 90 minutes; however, this did not occur in the Killip 1 group. Furthermore, multivariate analysis revealed that DBT ≤ 90 minutes was not a significant predictive factor in the Killip 1 group; however, it was an independent predictive factor in the Killip ≥ 2 group.DBT shortening affected the 30-day mortality in STEMI patients with Killip ≥ 2, although not those with Killip 1.

Intracranial aneurysm rupture within three days after receiving mRNA anti-COVID-19 vaccination: Three case reports

Background:

Although neurological adverse events have been reported after receiving coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines, associations between COVID-19 vaccination and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) have rarely been discussed. We report here the incidence and details of three patients who presented with intracranial aneurysm rupture shortly after receiving messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccines.

Case Description:

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of individuals who received a first and/ or second dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine between March 6, 2021, and June 14, 2021, in a rural district in Japan, and identified the occurrences of aneurysmal SAH within 3 days after mRNA vaccination. We assessed incidence rates (IRs) for aneurysmal SAH within 3 days after vaccination and spontaneous SAH for March 6–June 14, 2021, and for the March 6–June 14 intervals of a 5-year reference period of 2013–2017. We assessed the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of aneurysmal SAH within 3 days after vaccination and spontaneous SAH compared to the crude incidence in the reference period (2013–2017). Among 34,475 individuals vaccinated during the study period, three women presented with aneurysmal SAH (IR: 1058.7/100,000 person-years), compared with 83 SAHs during the reference period (IR: 20.7/100,000 persons-years). IRR was 0.026 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.0087–0.12; P < 0.001). A total of 28 spontaneous SAHs were verified from the Iwate Stroke Registry database during the same period in 2021 (IR: 34.9/100,000 person-years), and comparison with the reference period showed an IRR of 0.78 (95%CI 0.53–1.18; P = 0.204). All three cases developed SAH within 3 days (range, 0–3 days) of the first or second dose of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine by Pfizer/BioNTech. The median age at the time of SAH onset was 63.7 years (range, 44– 75 years). Observed locations of ruptured aneurysms in patients were the bifurcations of the middle cerebral artery, internal carotid-posterior communicating artery, and anterior communicating artery, respectively. Favorable outcomes (modified Rankin scale scores, 0–2) were obtained following microsurgical clipping or intra-aneurysm coiling.

Conclusion:

Although the advantages of COVID-19 vaccination appear to outweigh the risks, pharmacovigilance must be maintained to monitor potentially fatal adverse events and identify possible associations.

Acute Myocardial Infarction During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Update on Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly become a worldwide pandemic. On top of respiratory complications, COVID-19 is associated with major direct and indirect cardiovascular consequences, with the latter probably being even more relevant, especially in the setting of time-dependent cardiovascular emergencies. A growing amount of data suggests a dramatic decline in hospital admissions for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic, mostly since patients did not activate emergency medical systems because hospitals were perceived as dangerous places regarding the infection risk. Moreover, during the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with AMI had a significantly higher in-hospital mortality compared to those admitted before COVID-19, potentially due to late arrival to the hospital. Finally, no consensus has been reached regarding the most adequate healthcare management pathway for AMI and shared guidance on how to handle patients with AMI during the pandemic is still needed. In this review, we will provide an update on epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of patients with AMI during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a special focus on its collateral cardiac impact.

Noninvasive Imaging for Patients with COVID-19 and Acute Chest Pain

Acute chest pain is a common presentation in patients with COVID-19. Although noninvasive cardiac imaging modalities continue to be important cornerstones of management, the pandemic has brought forth difficult and unprecedented challenges in the provision of timely care while ensuring the safety of patients and providers. Clinical practice has adapted to these challenges, with several recommendations and societal guidelines emerging on the appropriate use of imaging modalities. In this review, we summarize the current evidence base on the use of noninvasive cardiac imaging modalities in COVID-19 patients with acute chest pain, with a focus on acute coronary syndromes.

A case series of myocardial infarction in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients: Same complication, different outcomes

Thrombosis is frequently observed in COVID-19, especially in critically ill patients. Management of such life-threatening conditions is of high importance in the context of the current pandemic. Herein, we provide a case series of myocardial infarction in the clinical evolution of COVID-19, emphasizing its importance and implications on the cardiovascular system.

Medium-Term Impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic on the Practice of Percutaneous Coronary Interventions in Japan

Aims: Declines in cardiovascular diseases during the first surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been reported. With the repeating surges of COVID-19, we aim to investigate the medium-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the practice of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs).

Methods: We performed a descriptive analysis of rates of PCIs, utilizing administrative data in Japan. Changes in the proportion of severe cases and in-hospital mortality since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic were investigated using interrupted time series (ITS) analyses.

Results: From April 2018 to February 2021, 38,696 and 28,585 cases of elective and emergency PCIs, respectively, were identified. The rates of PCIs decreased during the first and third COVID-19 surges. The ratios of monthly rates of elective PCIs to that in the corresponding months during the previous 2 years were 50.3% in May 2020 and 76.1% in January 2021. The decrease in rates of emergency PCIs was smaller than that of elective PCIs. The ITS analyses did not identify any significant changes in the proportion of severe cases and in-hospital mortality.

Conclusions: We found that the impacts of COVID-19 on PCIs were larger in the first surge than in the subsequent and larger in the elective than in the emergency; this continued over the medium-term. During the COVID-19 pandemic, in-hospital mortality of cases undertaking emergency PCIs did not change.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with inflammatory joint diseases in Sweden: from infection severity to impact on care provision

Objectives

To compare risks for COVID-19-related outcomes in inflammatory joint diseases (IJDs) and across disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) during the first two waves of the pandemic and to assess effects of the pandemic on rheumatology care provision.

Methods

Through nationwide multiregister linkages and cohort study design, we defined IJD and DMARD use annually in 2015–2020. We assessed absolute and relative risks of hospitalisation or death listing COVID-19. We also assessed the incidence of IJD and among individuals with IJD, rheumatologist visits, DMARD use and incidence of selected comorbidities.

Results

Based on 115 317 patients with IJD in 2020, crude risks of hospitalisation and death listing COVID-19 (0.94% and 0.33% across both waves, respectively) were similar during both waves (adjusted HR versus the general population 1.33, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.43, for hospitalisation listing COVID-19; 1.23, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.40 for death listing COVID-19). Overall, biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs)/targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (tsDMARDs) did not increase risks of COVID-19 related hospitalisation (with the exception of a potential signal for JAK inhibitors) or death. During the pandemic, decreases were observed for IJD incidence (−7%), visits to rheumatology units (−16%), DMARD dispensations (+6.5% for bDMARD/tsDMARDs and −8.5% for conventional synthetic DMARDs compared with previous years) and for new comorbid conditions, but several of these changes were part of underlying secular trends.

Conclusions

Patients with IJD are at increased risk of serious COVID-19 outcomes, which may partially be explained by medical conditions other than IJD per se. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has exerted measurable effects on aspects of rheumatology care provision demonstrated, the future impact of which will need to be assessed.

Patient delay prior to care-seeking in acute myocardial infarction during the outbreak of the coronavirus SARS-CoV2 pandemic

AIMS

To examine patient delay in seeking medical care when afflicted by an acute myocardial infarction during March-June 2020.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This was a cross-sectional study in a region in Sweden during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic examining patients selected from the national registry (SWEDEHEART). Eligible patients were those with acute myocardial infarction, and a total of 602 patients were invited. A self-administered psychometric evaluated questionnaire, 'Patients' appraisal, emotions, and action tendencies preceding care-seeking in acute myocardial infarction' (AMI), was sent to the patients, and questions regarding COVID-19 were added. A total of 326 patients answered the questionnaire. Of these, 19% hesitated to seek medical care because of the pandemic, which was related to a fear that the healthcare services were already overcrowded with patients with COVID-19, followed by a fear of becoming infected with COVID-19 in hospital. Characteristics of this cohort were significantly higher prevalences of women, immigrants, smokers, and patients with type 2 diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

During the outbreak and first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, women and immigrants delayed seeking medical care for AMI because of fears about overcrowded hospitals and about becoming infected themselves. Therefore, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is especially important to convey information about how and when to seek medical care. A collaboration involving the healthcare professionals, patient organizations, and the media would be desirable.

Increase of Myocardial Ischemia Time and Short-Term Prognosis of Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction during the First COVID-19 Pandemic Wave

Background and objectives: early reports showed a decrease in admission rates and an increase in mortality of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to investigate whether the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown had an impact on the ischemia time and prognosis of patients suffering from AMI in the settings of low COVID-19 burden. Materials and Methods: we conducted a retrospective data analysis from a tertiary center in Lithuania of 818 patients with AMI. Data were collected from 1 March to 30 June in 2020 during the peri-lockdown period (2020 group; n = 278) and compared to the same period last year (2019 group; n = 326). The primary study endpoint was all-cause mortality during 3 months of follow-up. Secondary endpoints were heart failure severity (Killip class) on admission and ischemia time in patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Results: there was a reduction of 14.7% in admission rate for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during the peri-lockdown period. The 3-month mortality rate did not differ significantly (6.9% in 2020 vs. 10.5% in 2019, p = 0.341 for STEMI patients; 5.3% in 2020 vs. 2.6% in 2019, p = 0.374 for patients with acute myocardial infarction without ST segment elevation (NSTEMI)). More STEMI patients presented with Killip IV class in 2019 (13.5% vs. 5.5%, p = 0.043, respectively). There was an increase of door-to-PCI time (54.0 [42.0-86.0] in 2019; 63.5 [48.3-97.5] in 2020, p = 0.018) and first medical contact (FMC)-to-PCI time (101.0 [82.5-120.8] in 2019; 115 [97.0-154.5] in 2020, p = 0.01) during the pandemic period. Conclusions: There was a 14.7% reduction of admissions for AMI during the first wave of COVID-19. FMC-to-PCI time increased during the peri-lockdown period, however, it did not translate into worse survival during follow-up.

Patient safety, quality of care and missed nursing care at a cardiology department during the COVID-19 outbreak

Aim

To evaluate missed nursing care and patient safety during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic at in‐patient cardiology wards.

Design

A cross‐sectional design with a comparative approach.

Method

Registered nurses and nurse assistants at a cardiology department were invited to answer the MISSCARE Survey‐Swedish version, and questions on patient safety and quality of care during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The data were compared with a reference sample.

Results

A total of 43 registered nurses and nurse assistants in the COVID‐19 sample and 59 in the reference sample participated. The COVID‐19 sample reported significantly more overtime hours and more absence from work due to illness in comparison with the reference sample. The patient safety and quality of care were perceived significantly worse, 76.7% (N = 33) versus 94.7% (N = 54), and 85.7% (N = 36) versus 98.3% (N = 58, respectively. The COVID‐19 sample reported more missed nursing care in wound care and in basic nursing.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on STEMI Networks in Central Romania

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on cardiovascular emergencies. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a regional network for management of ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI).

METHODS

We report a single center's experience of patients hospitalized for ACS in a high-volume hub of a STEMI network during the lockdown (in the first pandemic trimester), compared with the same time interval of the previous year and including all consecutive patients referred for an AMI during the second trimester of 2020 (from April to June) or during the same time interval of the previous year, 2019.

RESULTS

The absolute number of hospital admissions for AMI decreased by 22.3%, while the non-AMI hospitalizations decreased by 77.14% in Q2-2020 compared to Q2-2019 (210 vs. 48, p < 0.0001). As a consequence, the percentage of AMI cases from the total number of hospital admission increased from 38% to 68% (p < 0.0001), AMI becoming the dominant pathology. In the STEMI group there was a significant reduction of 55% in the absolute number of late STEMI presentations. Functionality of the STEMI network at the hub level did not present a significant alteration with only a minor increase in the door-to-balloon time, from 34 min to 41 min. However, at the level of the network we recorded a lower number of critical cases transferred to the interventional center, with a dramatic reduction of 56.1% in the number of critical STEMI cases arriving in the acute cardiac care unit (17.0% vs. 7.3%, p-0.04 for KILLIP class III, and 21.17% vs. 11.11%, p = 0.08 for resuscitated out of hospital cardiac arrest).

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19 outbreak did not have a major impact on the interventional center's functionality, but it limited the capacity of the regional STEMI network to bring the critical patient with complicated STEMI to the cathlab in time during the first months of the lockdown. Even a very well-functioning STEMI network like the one in Central Romania had difficulties bringing the most critical STEMI cases to the cathlab in time.

Cause of death based on systematic post-mortem studies in patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 tissue PCR during the COVID-19 pandemic

IMPORTANCE

Assessment of the causative association between the COVID-19 and cause of death has been hampered by limited availability of systematically performed autopsies. We aimed to present autopsy-confirmed causes of death in patients who died with COVID-19 and to assess the association between thrombosis and diffuse alveolar damage consistent with COVID-19 (DAD).

METHODS

Consecutive forensic (n = 60) and clinical (n = 42) autopsies with positive post-mortem SARS-CoV-2 PCR in lungs (age 73 ± 14 years, 50% men) were included. The cause of death analysis was based on a review of medical records and histological reports. Thrombotic phenomena in lungs were defined as pulmonary thromboembolism (PE), thrombosis in pulmonary artery branches or microangiopathy in capillary vessels.

RESULTS

COVID-19 caused or contributed to death in 71% of clinical and 83% of forensic autopsies, in whom significant DAD was observed. Of the patients with COVID-19 as the primary cause of death, only 19% had no thrombotic phenomena in the lungs, as opposed to 38% amongst those with COVID-19 as a contributing cause of death and 54% amongst patients whose death was not related to COVID-19 (p = 0.002). PE was observed in 5 patients. Two patients fulfilled the criteria for lymphocyte myocarditis.

CONCLUSIONS

Vast majority of all PCR-positive fatalities, including out-of-hospital deaths, during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic were related to DAD caused by COVID-19. Pulmonary artery thrombosis and microangiopathy in pulmonary tissue were common and associated with the presence of DAD, whilst venous PE was rarely observed. Histology-confirmed lymphocyte myocarditis was a rare finding.

Global burden of acute myocardial injury associated with COVID-19: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression

Background

The body of evidence showed that there is a strong correlation between acute myocardial Injury and COVID-19 infection. However, the link between acute myocardial infection and COVID-19, the prevalence, reliability of diagnostic modalities, independent predictors, and clinical outcomes are still uncertain and a topic of debate. The current study was designed to determine the prevalence, determinants, and outcomes of acute myocardial injury based on a systematic review and meta-analysis the global published peer-reviewed works of literature.

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed/Medline; Science direct, CINHAL, and LILACS from December 2019 to May 2021. All observational studies reporting the prevalence of AMI were included while case reports and reviews were excluded. The data were extracted with two independent authors in a customized format. The methodological quality of included studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa appraisal tool.

Results

A total of 397 articles were identified from different databases. Thirty-seven Articles with 21, 204 participants were included while seven studies were excluded. The meta-analysis revealed that the pooled prevalence of myocardial injury during the COVID-19 pandemic was 22.33 % (95 % CI: 17.86 to 26.81, 37).

Conclusion

Our meta-analysis showed that mortality among patients with an acute myocardial injury during COVID-19 was more than four times more likely as compared to those without AMI. This necessitates a mitigating strategy to prevent and manage before its clinical outcomes getting worse.

∙

The meta-analysis revealed that more than one-fifth of patients with COVID-19 sustained AMI

∙The incidence of mortality among patients with AMI during COVID-19 pandemic was four times more likely as compared those without AMI

∙Prevalence of AMI was three times more likely in patients with history of Coronary artery disease

∙Smoking and hypertension were the independent predictors of acute myocardial Injury

Cardiac arrest in COVID-19: characteristics and outcomes of in- and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. A report from the Swedish Registry for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Aim

To study the characteristics and outcome among cardiac arrest cases with COVID-19 and differences between the pre-pandemic and the pandemic period in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA).

Method and results

We included all patients reported to the Swedish Registry for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation from 1 January to 20 July 2020. We defined 16 March 2020 as the start of the pandemic. We assessed overall and 30-day mortality using Cox regression and logistic regression, respectively. We studied 1946 cases of OHCA and 1080 cases of IHCA during the entire period. During the pandemic, 88 (10.0%) of OHCAs and 72 (16.1%) of IHCAs had ongoing COVID-19. With regards to OHCA during the pandemic, the odds ratio for 30-day mortality in COVID-19-positive cases, compared with COVID-19-negative cases, was 3.40 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.31–11.64]; the corresponding hazard ratio was 1.45 (95% CI 1.13–1.85). Adjusted 30-day survival was 4.7% for patients with COVID-19, 9.8% for patients without COVID-19, and 7.6% in the pre-pandemic period. With regards to IHCA during the pandemic, the odds ratio for COVID-19-positive cases, compared with COVID-19-negative cases, was 2.27 (95% CI 1.27–4.24); the corresponding hazard ratio was 1.48 (95% CI 1.09–2.01). Adjusted 30-day survival was 23.1% in COVID-19-positive cases, 39.5% in patients without COVID-19, and 36.4% in the pre-pandemic period.

Conclusion

During the pandemic phase, COVID-19 was involved in at least 10% of all OHCAs and 16% of IHCAs, and, among COVID-19 cases, 30-day mortality was increased 3.4-fold in OHCA and 2.3-fold in IHCA.

Impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on hospitalizations and outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction in a Japanese Single Center

There are a few Japanese data regarding the incidence and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. We retrospectively reviewed the data of AMI patients admitted to the Nihon University Itabashi Hospital after a COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 (COVID-19 period) and the same period from 2017 to 2019 (control period). The patients’ characteristics, time course of admission, diagnosis, and treatment of AMI, and 30-day mortality were compared between the two period-groups for both ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-STEMI (NSTEMI), respectively. The AMI inpatients decreased by 5.7% after the COVID-19 outbreak. There were no differences among most patient backgrounds between the two-period groups. For NSTEMI, the time from the symptom onset to admission was significantly longer, and that from the AMI diagnosis to the catheter examination tended to be longer during the COVID-19 period than the control period, but not for STEMI. The 30-day mortality was significantly higher during the COVID-19 period for NSTEMI (23.1% vs. 1.9%, P = 0.004), but not for STEMI (9.4% vs. 8.3%, P = 0.77). In conclusion, hospitalizations for AMI decreased after the COVID-19 outbreak. Acute cardiac care for STEMI and the associated outcome did not change, but NSTEMI outcome worsened after the COVID-19 outbreak, which may have been associated with delayed medical treatment due to the indirect impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In- and out-of-hospital mortality for myocardial infarction during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Emilia-Romagna, Italy: A population-based observational study

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has put several healthcare systems under severe pressure. The present analysis investigates how the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic affected the myocardial infarction (MI) network of Emilia-Romagna (Italy).

Methods

Based on Emilia-Romagna mortality registry and administrative data from all the hospitals from January 2017 to June 2020, we analysed: i) temporal trend in MI hospital admissions; ii) characteristics, management, and 30-day mortality of MI patients; iii) out-of-hospital mortality for cardiac cause.

Findings

Admissions for MI declined on February 22, 2020 (IRR -19.5%, 95%CI from -8.4% to -29.3%, p = 0.001), and further on March 5, 2020 (IRR -21.6%, 95%CI from -9.0% to -32.5%, p = 0.001). The return to pre-COVID-19 MI-related admission levels was observed from May 13, 2020 (IRR 34.3%, 95%CI 20.0%-50.2%, p<0.001). As compared to those before the pandemic, MI patients admitted during and after the first wave were younger and with fewer risk factors. The 30-day mortality remained in line with that expected based on previous years (ratio observed/expected was 0.96, 95%CI 0.84-1.08). MI patients positive for SARS-CoV-2 were few (1.5%) but showed poor prognosis (around 5-fold increase in 30-day mortality). In 2020, the number of out-of-hospital cardiac deaths was significantly higher (ratio observed/expected 1.17, 95%CI 1.08-1.27). The peak was reached in April.

Interpretation

In Emilia-Romagna, MI hospitalizations significantly decreased during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Management and outcomes of hospitalized MI patients remained unchanged, except for those with SARS-CoV-2 infection. A concomitant increase in the out-of-hospital cardiac mortality was observed.

Funding

None.

[COVID-19 pandemic : Effects on clinical care of cardiovascular patients in spring 2020]

Die COVID-19(„coronavirus disease 2019“)-Pandemie hat zu einer Fokussierung der Akutmedizin auf die Versorgung von Patienten mit SARS-CoV-2(„severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2“)-infizierten Patienten geführt – mit Auswirkungen auf alle anderen medizinischen Gebiete. In den Monaten von März bis Mai 2020 kam es zu einem Rückgang der Krankenhausaufnahmen sowohl für elektive kardiologische Prozeduren als auch für akute kardiologische Erkrankungen. Die Anzahl von Patienten mit akutem Herzinfarkt, insbesondere mit Nicht-ST-Strecken-Hebungs-Infarkt, ist während dieser Monate zurückgegangen, und es zeigte sich auch teilweise eine Zunahme der Zeit zwischen Symptombeginn und Krankenhausaufnahme. In einigen Untersuchungen wurde auch eine Erhöhung der infarktbezogenen Mortalität beobachtet. Die Gründe sind vielfältig und beinhalten eine Furcht der Patienten vor dem Krankenhausaufenthalt mit möglicher Ansteckung mit SARS-CoV‑2, Missdeutung der Symptome und Fokussierung des Gesundheitssystems auf die Pandemie. Zusätzlich kann SARS-CoV‑2 zu einer höheren Thromboseneigung führen und damit schwerere Verläufe eines Myokardinfarkts induzieren.

The association of mode of location activity and mobility with acute coronary syndrome: a nationwide ecological study

BACKGROUND

We aimed to study the effect of social containment mandates on ACS presentation during COVID-19 pandemic using location activity and mobility data from mobile phone map services.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry (SCAAR) including all ACS presentations during the pandemic until 7 May 2020. Using a count regression model, we adjusted for day of the week, daily weather and incidence of COVID-19.

RESULTS

A 10% increase in activity around areas of residence was associated with 38% lower rates of ACS hospitalizations, whereas increased activity relating to retail and recreation, grocery stores and pharmacies, workplaces and mode of mobility was associated with 10-20% higher rates of ACS hospitalizations.

CONCLUSION

Government policy regarding social containment mandates has important public health implications for medical emergencies such as ACS and may explain the decline in ACS presentations observed during COVID-19 pandemic.

Hospitalization deficit of in- and outpatient cases with cardiovascular diseases and utilization of cardiological interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic: Insights from the German-wide helios hospital network

Background

Treatment numbers of various cardiovascular diseases were reduced throughout the early phase of the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic. Aim of this study was to (a) expand previous study periods to examine the long‐term course of hospital admission numbers, (b) provide data for in‐ and outpatient care pathways, and (c) illustrate changes of numbers of cardiovascular procedures.

Methods and Results

Administrative data of patients with ICD‐10‐encoded primary diagnoses of cardiovascular diseases (heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease) and in‐ or outpatient treatment between March, 13th 2020 and September, 10th 2020 were analyzed and compared with 2019 data. Numbers of cardiovascular procedures were calculated using OPS‐codes. The cumulative hospital admission deficit (CumAD) was computed as the difference between expected and observed admissions for every week in 2020. In total, 80 hospitals contributed 294 361 patient cases to the database without relevant differences in baseline characteristics between the studied periods. There was a CumAD of −10% to −16% at the end of the study interval in 2020 for all disease groups driven to varying degrees by both reductions of in‐ and outpatient case numbers. The number of performed interventions was significantly reduced for all examined procedures (catheter ablations: −10%; cardiac electronic device implantations: −7%; percutaneous cardiovascular interventions: −9%; cardiovascular surgery: −15%).

Conclusions

This study provides data on the long‐term development of cardiovascular patient care during the COVID‐19 pandemic demonstrating a significant CumAD for several cardiovascular diseases and a concomitant performance deficit of cardiovascular interventions.