ABSTRACT
Objectives: Worldwide reduction in emergency procedures has been observed during the current COVID-19 pandemic. The effects of the pandemic and its associated lockdown on arrhythmia related emergency procedures is not known. This study was done to see the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on provision of emergency arrhythmia procedures and to identify vulnerable patient groups that may be disproportionately affected during lockdown. Methodology: Data for patients requiring emergency intracardiac devices including temporary and permanent pacemakers was collected from three public sector hospitals of Sindh, Pakistan, for the COVID-19 lockdown period of March to May 2020. This was compared to the data for the same period for 2019. Results: Patients presenting during lockdown decreased by 32.8% (from 250 to 168) compared to the same period without lockdown. The decline was across all emergency procedures considered. There was a more than fivefold reduction in the number of patients in patients from outside the metropolitan area of the hospital (64.3%) compared to those residing within the city (12.5%) (p=0.001). There was a trend showing women to be more effected, with the percentage decline in women being statistically significant in the rural setting (-93.8% vs. -52.9%, p=0.043). All age groups were equally affected (p=0.152). Conclusion: A marked reduction in the number of patients who presented for emergency intra cardiac devices and TPM procedures was seen during COVID-19 lockdown. The patients who presented from outside the city of the hospital and women in rural setting were significantly more effected.