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.