Activity of a catheterization laboratory in Tunisia: A comparative study before and during confinement (COVID-19) - 09/01/21
Résumé |
Introduction |
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the Tunisian healthcare system. To reduce the risk of contracting or transmitting COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended deferral of elective cardiac procedures, including coronary angiography (CA) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for stable coronary artery disease (CAD).
Purpose |
However anecdotal reports suggest also a decline in the number of patients consulting for an unstable CAD and therefore in the activity of the catheterization laboratory.
Methods |
To confirm this finding, we conducted a study comparing the number of patients who consulted for an unstable CAD and who benefited from a CA associated or not with a PCI during the confinement period (CP) (from March 15, 2020 to April 30, 2020) and just 6 weeks before (from February 1, 2020 to March 15, 2020) in Mongi Slim La Marsa University Hospital Center.
Results |
Our analysis showed that out of 183 patients with unstable CAD, 127 (69,4%) and 56 (30.6%) consulted and were urgently treated in our catheterization laboratory respectively before and during the confinement period thus an estimated 40% reduction in our daily activity (Fig. 1).
Conclusion |
Potential etiologies for the decrease in unstable patients with CAD may be related to the avoidance of medical care due to social distancing or concerns of contracting COVID-19 in the hospital and ST-Segment elevation myocardial infarction misdiagnosis. As long as the pandemic continues, we highly recommend to follow this signal and investigate its causes.
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Vol 13 - N° 1
P. 12 - janvier 2021 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.