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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiology services

Omar Fersia1, Sue Bryant2, Rachael Nicholson2

  • 1Cardiology Department, Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, UK ofersia@nhs.net.

Open Heart
|August 29, 2020
PubMed

Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic caused over a 50% drop in cardiology services, including myocardial infarction diagnoses and treatments. Urgent recovery plans are needed to address the impact on heart disease care.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Public Health
  • Health Services Research

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic led to the prioritization of National Health Service (NHS) resources.
  • No previous UK studies have examined the impact of COVID-19 work patterns on cardiology services.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiology services and clinical activity in the UK.
  • To quantify changes in service provision during the pandemic.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of key performance indicators in cardiology services.
  • Comparison of data from periods before and during COVID-19 lockdown in a single UK center.

Main Results:

  • A greater than 50% reduction in cardiology patient presentations and myocardial infarction diagnoses.
  • Significant decreases across all cardiology service areas, including outpatient clinics, investigations, procedures, and community services (heart failure, cardiac rehabilitation).

Conclusions:

  • Cardiology services experienced substantial reductions during the pandemic.
  • Given that ischemic heart disease is a leading cause of death, services must prepare for increased workload and develop new pathways for recovery.
  • Urgent interventions are required to support patients adversely affected by service changes.
Abstract

Keywords:
cardiac rehabilitationcoronary artery diseasedelivery of careheart failure

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