IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON ACCESS TO CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS: A REGIONAL ANALYSIS FROM POLAND COVID-19 AND CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY ACCESS

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Background: Cardiovascular diseases are a major cause of death worldwide, with myocardial infarction being one of the most critical and time-sensitive conditions requiring urgent medical intervention. Coronary angiography is the gold standard diagnostic procedure for the assessment of coronary artery diseases. However, the access to such procedures heavily relies on the efficiency of the healthcare system worldwide. Several studies report that the COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to a reduction in the number of cardiology procedures performed and an increase in mortality due to myocardial infarction. Aim: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the utilization of coronary angiography among patients aged ≥65 years hospitalized for myocardial infarction in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship, Poland. Methods: A retrospective analysis based on aggregated administrative data obtained from the National Health Fund (NFZ) upon request comparing 3 periods: pre-pandemic (2017-2019), pandemic (2020-2021) and post-pandemic (2022-2023). Results: The analysis revealed a decrease in hospitalizations (11.6%) and coronary angiographies performed (12.3%), along with an increase in mortality due to myocardial infarction (8.7%) in the pandemic period. Conclusions: Due to restrictions and fear of contracting COVID-19, patients reported symptoms and visited medical facilities less often. Other potential causes include STEMI misdiagnosis and increased use of pharmacological reperfusion due to COVID-19. The consequences of the pandemic require more investigation.

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