ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to measures of social isolation, labor restrictions, a strong information campaign and the suspension of scheduled medical activities. The aim of this study was to describe the impact of these measures on the number of hospitalizations in Cardiovascular Intensive Care Units, with the hypothesis that the social behavior generated by this emergency promotes a decreased demand for medical care, even when severe cardiovascular disease is involved. We compared the number of admissions in March-April 2010-2019 versus March-April 2020, based on a prospective study including six institutions (three public and three private) that use Epi-CardioR as a multicenter registry of cardiovascular care unit discharge. Altogether, we included 6839 patients discharged during the 11-year study period (2010-2020). The average number of patient admissions on March-April 2010-19 was 595 (CI 95%: 507-683) and decreased to 348 in 2020 fall of 46.8%, p.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The pandemic declared by the WHO for the SARS CoV2 virus led Argentina to initiating a mandatory quarantine on March 19th, 2020. Due to this, the health system prepares the care for COVID-19 cases, but the impact in this scenario on other prevalent pathologies such as cardiovascular ones, is unknown. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted by telephone to the centers participating in the ARGEN-IAM-ST registry. The questionnaire was developed mainly to inqui-re about the institutional organization, ambulatory care, critical care hospitalization and health personnel infected with SARS-CoV2. Results: There were 80 centers surveyed, 55% of them public, 97% with critical care service. There was a crisis committee constituted for the pandemic, by 91% of the institutions. Outpatient care measures were taken in 65% of the centers to comply with social distancing. The admission of patients with cardiovascular pathologies in critical care units was reduced for 89% and the magnitude of the drop averaged 57% (SD ± 18). In 19 centers (24%), the institution's health personnel infected with SARS-Cov2 were recorded. Conclusion: A high percentage of centers participating in the continuous ARGEN-IAM-ST registry created crisis committees to reorganize care;and almost two thirds of them took measures for outpatient follow-up;and there has been a significant drop in the occupancy of beds in critical units for cardiovascular patients.
ABSTRACT
Background: The pandemic declared by WHO for the SARS-CoV-2 virus prepared the Argentine health system for the care of COVID-19 cases, but in this scenario the impact on prevalent diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, is unknown. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the centers participating in the ARGEN-IAM-ST registry, to investigate the institutional organization, outpatient care, hospitalization in critical care areas and the situation of health care workers. Results: A total of 80 centers were surveyed;55% were public institutions and 97% had critical care areas. Ninety-one percent of the institutions created a crisis committee due to the pandemic and 65% took measures for outpatient care due to social distancing. In 89% of the centers hospitalizations due to cardiovascular diseases declined by 57% (SD ± 18) and in 24% of the centers health care workers became infected with SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion: A high percentage of centers participating in the ARGEN-IAM-ST continuous registry created crisis committees to reorganize the delivery of health care services;almost two thirds of them took measures for outpatient follow-up and there was a significant decline in bed occupancy for patients with cardiovascular diseases.