The survey of electrophysiology lab activity during the COVID-19 pandemic

With the onset and spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospitalization and treatment of noncovid patients were dramatically affected. The aim of this study is to evaluate the electrophysiology (EP) lab activity in a referral center in Iran during the COVID-19 era.

A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted on EP lab activity in Shahid Chamran Heart Center, Isfahan, Iran. Two periods of COVID-19 occurrence peaks in Iran were compared with same date in 2019. Information was collected on number of diagnostic and therapeutic electrophysiology studies (EPSs) and implantation of intracardiac devices such as permanent pacemaker (PPM), implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

In the first peak of COVID-19 pandemic, both of EPSs and intracardiac device implantations decreased by 80% compared to the same period in 2019. The most common type of device implanted during this period was PPM (70%); however, at the time of control, the ICD (73%) was the most common. Paroxysmal supraventricular tachyarrhythmia (PSVT) was the best indication for diagnostic and therapeutic EPSs in covid and control periods. In the second peak of prevalence of COVID-19 virus infection in Iran, 6% and 36% decreases in device implantations and EPSs were seen, respectively. During this period, the number of procedures increased, although it was still lower than in 2019.

A significant reduction in the EP lab activity has been observed during both the COVID-19 pandemic peaks.