Patient voluntarily delays call to emergency medical system for ST-elevation myocardial infarction during COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: An increase in the time from the symptoms onset to first medical contact and to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) has been observed in countries with high-incidence of COVID-19 cases. We aimed to verify if there was any change in the patient delay and in the EMS response times up to the pPCI for STEMI patients in Swiss Ticino Canton. METHODS: We assessed STEMI management including time from symptoms onset to EMS call, time of EMS response, time to pPCI in Swiss Canton Ticino. Data were retrieved from the Acute-Coronary-Syndrome-Ticino-Registry. We considered the patients included in the registry from March to May 2020 (pandemic period) and then from June to August 2020 (post-pandemic period) in whom a pPCI was performed. We compared these patients to those undergoing a pPCI in the same months in the year 2016-2019. RESULTS: During the pandemic period, the time from symptoms onset to pPCI significantly increased compared to non-pandemic periods. This was due to a significant prolongation of the time from symptoms onset to EMS call, that nearly tripled. In contrast, after the pandemic period, there was a significantly shorter time from symptom onset to EMS call compared to non-pandemic years, whereas all other times remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: Patients delay the call to EMS despite symptoms of myocardial infarction during the COVID-19 pandemic also in a region with a relatively low incidence of COVID-19.

The impact of COVID-19 on short-term prognosis of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients receiving primary percutaneous coronary intervention in Wuhan China.

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a common cardiovascular emergency for which timely reperfusion therapies are needed to minimize myocardial necrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and reorganization of chest pain centers (CPC) on the practice of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) and prognosis of STEMI patients. This single-center retrospective survey included all patients with STEMI admitted to our CPC from January 22, 2020 to April 30, 2020 (during COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan), compared with those admitted during the analogous period in 2019, in respect of important time points of PPCI and clinical outcomes of STEMI patients. In the present article, we observed a descending trend in STEMI hospitalization and a longer time from symptom onset to first medical contact during the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to the control period (4.35 h versus 2.58 h). With a median delay of 17 minutes in the door to balloon time (D2B), the proportion of in-hospital cardiogenic shock was significantly higher in the COVID-19 era group (47.6% versus 19.5%), and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) tend to increase in the 6-month follow-up period (14.3% versus 2.4%). Although the reorganization of CPC may prolong the D2B time, immediate revascularization of the infarct-related artery could be offered to most patients within 90 minutes upon arrival. PPCI remained the preferred treatment for patients with STEMI during COVID-19 pandemic in the context of timely implementation and appropriate protective measures.

The Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Volume, Time to Presentation, and Door-to-Balloon Time: A Report from a High-Volume Statewide Primary Percutaneous Intervention Program.

BACKGROUND: The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak has affected ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) care worldwide. Reports from China, Europa, and North America showed a significant decline in STEMI volume with a simultaneous increase in time from symptoms to hospital presentation. AIM: The aim of the study was to study the effect of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak on primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) volume performed for STEMI, symptom onset to hospital presentation time (symptom-to-door [S2D]), and door-to-balloon time (D2B) at the main nationwide PPCI center in Qatar. METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of prospectively collected quality improvement cardiac catheterization data in Qatar was performed. PPCI volume and S2D and D2B time during the outbreak from March 9, 2020, to May 14, 2020, were compared with that of the same period from the prior year and the period immediately preceding the outbreak. RESULTS: Since the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Qatar, 137 PPCI procedures were performed. There was a 40% reduction in the volume of PPCI when compared with the period immediately preceding the outbreak and 16% reduction in volume when compared with that of the same period in 2019. The median S2D time was 115 min (interquartile range [IQR: 124]), which was not statistically different from that of the preceding period or the same period in 2019. D2B time during the outbreak increased by an average of 7 min when compared with that of the same period preceding the outbreak (median: 47 min [IQR: 28] during the outbreak vs. median: 40 min [IQR: 21] during the preceding period, P = 0.016). CONCLUSION: In a statewide PPCI program in Qatar, we observed a mild reduction in PPCI cases during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak (16% when compared with the same period in 2019), with a modest increase in D2B time. PPCI can be performed effectively during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak at very high-volume centers with the adoption of strict infection control measures. With proper training and monitoring, both target D2B and hospital staff safety can be achieved.

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Presentation and Hospital Management of STEMI Patients in a Tertiary Care Center in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 Pandemic has put enormous pressure on the healthcare system globally, causing many healthcare organizations to cancel elective admission for coronary angiograms. The purpose of this study is to assess changes in ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) practice, including the number of patients, door to balloon time and time from the onset of symptoms until reperfusion therapy in a tertiary center in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This is a single center retrospective observational study, comparing all STEMI patients in the last five months of 2019 (Pre-COVID-19 period) with the first 5 months of 2020 (COVID -19 period) in regards to the volume of STEMI patients, symptoms onset to ER arrival time, door to balloon timing and the reperfusion therapy strategy. RESULTS: A total number of 173 STEMI patients were analyzed; 81 STEMI patients in the Pre-COVID-19 period and 92 STEMI patients in the COVID-19 period. When compared with pre-COVID period, there was a statistically non-significant increase in STEMI patients (12%), slight delay in the door to balloon timing; 94 vs 87 minutes. As well, there was more delay from onset of symptoms to presentation to the ER (>12 hours from symptoms onset to ER arrival (16% vs, 4% in group 1). Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) was the main modality between the 2 groups without significant differences (100% Pre-COVID vs. 97% COVID-19 period). CONCLUSION: There was some delay of STEMI patient's presentation to the hospital during Covid-19 timing, without significant changes in the medical practice of care.

COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on service provision: A cardiology prospect.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted the availability of cardiology services and management of cardiac conditions. Elective surgeries, outpatient appointments and cardiac imaging have been largely cancelled across the world due to the risk of infection transmission and the need for reallocation of resources to deal with the increasing number of COVID-19 patients. The impact on patients with cardiac co-morbidities during these times may be drastic. However, cardiologists and hospitals across the world have implemented measures to ensure on-going monitoring and care of patients remotely. In this review, we discuss the impact of COVID-19 on cardiac services including interventional cardiology services, cardiac imaging and outpatient appointments. In addition, implications for future research and clinical practice are also discussed.