Comparing Outcome of Cardiac Catheterization in March 2020 with March 2019

ABSTRACT

Using methods on cardiac catheterization from ANCALAR we compared data from March 2020 to data from March 2019 by conducting a "snapshot"-survey. 11 centres voluntarily provided data for comparative analyses. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 cardiac catheterisation procedures markedly decreased. The rate of diagnostic angiographic procedures declined by 26%, non-acute PCI by 29%, and interventions for acute coronary syndromes by 14% [(STEMI-PCI (-18%) and NSTEMI-PCI (-15%)]. As expected, this trend of declining cardiac procedures in catheterisation laboratories may influence outcomes and further decision making. Further studies are warranted to confirm this trend and future clinical impact.