IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ASSOCIATED LOCKDOWN ON ADMISSIONS SECONDARY TO CARDIAC AILMENTS IN A TERTIARY CARDIAC CENTRE OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

Objective: To assess the impact of COVID 19 pandemic associated lockdown on the emergency patient visits and their management and outcome in a tertiary cardiac center of Pakistan.

Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology from Mar 2020 to May 2020.

Methodology: Records of patients presenting at the emergency department (ED during the lockdown period (23rd March 2020 to 7th May) was assessed. Similarly records of patients presenting to the emergency department during the same period last year was assessed. The two were than compared. Parameters compared included the gender difference, the underlying disease, the number of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients, patients undergoing lysis and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and the mortality. Data analysis was done in terms of numbers and percentage change in each parameter.

Results: There was considerable decrease in the number of patients visiting the emergency department (32.48%) i.e from 13326 to 8997. In addition, the ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) number declined considerably (37.84%) as did the primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) number (66.43%) and the number of patients coming with non ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTEACS) (72.32%) and decompensated heart failure (86.86%). The overall emergency department mortality also reduced by 42.1%. There was however an increase in the percentage of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients lysed.

Conclusion: This study shows the dramatic decline in patient admissions with cardiac ailments in the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital highlighting the overall................