Nuclear Cardiology in the Post-COVID Era: What Will Be Its Legacy?

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Nuclear Cardiology
• Public Health

Background:

• The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic negatively affected cardiovascular disease (CVD) patient management.
• Delayed diagnoses and treatments for CVD patients, even without COVID-19 infection, highlight the pandemic's syndemic nature.
• Pre-existing challenges in CVD patient management, like increased mortality and supply shortages, were exacerbated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiovascular imaging practices globally.
• To identify changes in cardiovascular disease management necessitated by the pandemic.
• To explore potential long-term legacies of the pandemic on nuclear cardiology.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a global survey named "INCAPS-COVID" to evaluate changes in cardiovascular imaging.
• Collected data on cardiovascular imaging practices during the early stages of the pandemic (March-April 2020).

Main Results:

• A substantial reduction, approximately 50%, in cardiovascular imaging practices was observed during the early pandemic.
• The pandemic forced significant adaptations in cardiovascular management strategies.
• Key adaptations include the adoption of telemedicine, a shift towards pharmacological stress testing, and a move from SPECT to PET imaging.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted cardiovascular disease care and nuclear cardiology practices.
• Adaptations made during the pandemic, such as telemedicine and advanced imaging techniques, are likely to become permanent improvements.
• Nuclear cardiology is poised to emerge stronger and more advanced post-pandemic.