12 Apr Cath Lab Use For Heart Attacks Drops During COVID-19 Epidemic

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Garcia

Santiago Garcia, MD FACC
Interventional Cardiologist, Minneapolis Heart Institute^®
Researcher, Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation^®

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? 

Response: We analyzed and quantified ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) activations for 9 high-volume (>100 primary percutaneous angioplasties per year) cardiac catheterization laboratories in the US. These centers represent different geographic areas and levels of COVID-19 exposure in the US. The data analyzed was from January 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020.

Participating centers included 1-Minneapolis Heart Institute, Minneapolis, MN, 2- Beaumont Hospital Royal Oak, Royal Oak, MI, 3- The Christ Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, 4- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 5- UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA, 6- Iowa Heart, Des Moines, IA, 7- Northwell Health Hospital, Manhasset, NY, 8- Prairie Cardiovascular, Springfield, IL, and 9- Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings? Are the findings consistent with those of Spain, China and Italy?

Response: The preliminary analysis during the COVID-19 pandemic shows a 38% reduction in cardiac catheterization laboratory STEMI activations, which are the standard-of-care treatment for patients with heart attacks. This finding is consistent with the reduction reported in Spain (40%).

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: It is critical to understand if patient-based anxiety is leading to this decrease of patients seeking care for the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. Patients also need to know that avoiding care and treatment could be dangerous for certain acute cardiovascular conditions such as heart attacks. In these situations, timing is key and hospitals across the country are following careful procedures to keep patients safe from COVID-19 exposure, while providing life-saving treatments.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add? Any disclosures?

Response: The regional STEMI program at Abbott Northwestern Hospital is supported by the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation and Allina Health.

Citation:

Reduction in ST-Segment Elevation Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Activations in the United States during COVID-19 Pandemic

Santiago Garcia, Mazen S. Albaghdadi, Perwaiz M. Meraj, Christian Schmidt, Ross Garberich, Farouc A. Jaffer, Simon Dixon, Jeffrey J. Rade, Mark Tannenbaum, Jenny Chambers, Paul P. Huang, Timothy D. Henry
J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020 Apr 10. Epublished DOI:10.1016/j.jacc.2020.04.011 

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Last Updated on May 12, 2020 by Marie Benz MD FAAD