The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Myocardial Infarction Care in Kosovo

Background and Aim: Studies worldwide have documented a reduction in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to assess AMI admissions, management, and in-hospital outcomes in Kosovo during the pandemic period. Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-centre study including all consecutive AMI admissions from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2020 at the Clinic of Cardiology, University Clinical Centre of Kosovo, the only public tertiary primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) centre in the country. The pre-pandemic (PP) period was defined as 1 January 2018-12 March 2020 and the ongoing pandemic (OP) period as 13 March-31 December 2020. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, angiographic, and outcome data were collected. In-hospital mortality was defined as death between admission and discharge. Interrupted time-series analyses were performed. Results: A total of 898 AMI patients were admitted during OP and 2955 during PP. Daily admissions decreased from 3.8/day to 3.05/day (p < 0.001). OP patients were younger, more often hypertensive and smokers, and more frequently male. Coronary angiography (81% vs. 76%, p = 0.001) and PCI (66% vs. 60%, p = 0.001) were more frequent during OP, while in-hospital mortality remained unchanged. Time-series analysis showed a sharp fall in admissions at OP (β = -12.66, p < 0.001) with gradual recovery, alongside an increase in PCI use (β = 0.184, p < 0.001) and stable mortality. The proportion of ST-segment elevation (STEMI) cases increased significantly during the pandemic period. Compared with the pandemic period, admission during the pre-pandemic period was associated with lower odds of undergoing PCI (aOR 0.81, 95% CI 0.69-0.95), while age ≥ 65 reduced the likelihood of PCI. Conclusions: AMI hospitalizations in Kosovo declined significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic cohort was younger, with the profile of admitted patients shifting toward younger age, male sex, and STEMI presentation. Despite fewer admissions, PCI use increased, while no statistically significant difference in in-hospital mortality was observed between the two periods. These findings describe changes in treatment patterns and short-term in-hospital outcomes during the pandemic but should not be interpreted as evidence of equivalent overall quality of AMI care.