Triage of cardiac imaging testing did not impact patient outcomes in a large cardiac network during the covid-19 pandemic

160 Table 1Demographic and outcome data for patients with cancelled or completed cardiac scans during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic 160 Figure 1All cause mortality in patients with cancelled or completed outpatients cardiac tests from the time of the first round of cancellations (18/04/2020) at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinically urgent scans, as triaged by expert clinicians, were completed, and others cancelled. Mortality was greater for those with completed scans detected over a mean follow-up of 581 days. (B) Acute admissions to emergency, cardiac or cardiothoracic services in patients with cancelled or completed cardiac tests after cancellations of low-risk patients. In keeping with triage, patients with completed scans had worse outcomes. Patients with low-risk clinical features had a reassuring rate of admission[Figure omitted. See PDF]ConclusionOur approach to diagnostic testing in cardiology during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic accurately identified and tested high-risk patients without causing harm to those at lower risk, demonstrated by higher admission rates in patients in whom tests were performed, and the absence of an adverse impact on mortality. 49% of patients underwent subsequent cardiac testing after a cancelled test. We maintained low waiting times throughout the pandemic.Conflict of InterestNone