ABSTRACT
Introduction: The clinico-epidemiological characteristics in the diagnosis, evolution and treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarction in the COVID-19 era depend on several factors. Objectives: To determine the behavior of some clinico-epidemiological variables in the management of patients with acute myocardial infarction during de COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An observational study was carried out in four secondary care hospitals in Cuba. The following variables were used: number of admission due to acute myocardial infarction, hospital mortality, delay longer than four hours from the beginning of the symptoms to the arrival to the first medical assistance, and thrombolysis percentage. Two groups were defined, those admitted from March 1st to September 30th, 2019 ( Group I) and those admitted in the same period, but from 2020 ( Group II). Comparisons between both groups were made using the chi square test. Results: There was a decrease of 53 admissions due to acute myocardial infarction in Las Tunas ( 112 vs. 159;p<0.05), with an increase in the number of admissions in the Hospital Enrique Cabrera in patients from Group II ( 98 vs. 68;p<0.05). The number of deaths and hospital mortality in Group II increased in all the centers in relation to Group I. In most of the hospitals there was an increase of the time elapsed from the beginning of the symptoms to the arrival to the first medical assistance. Thrombolysis percentage in Group II was higher than 50% in most of the centers. Conclusions: The characteristics of COVID-19 may modify the clinical and epidemiological aspects in the management of patients with acute myocardial infarction.