Abstract
Background: Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) is an unexpected death attributed to a cardiac cause that occurs within one hour of symptom onset. Males have a higher likelihood of experiencing sudden cardiac arrest compared to females, as evidenced by previous studies indicating a substantial disparity in mortality rates between the genders. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on cardiovascular population health patterns. Therefore, our study aimed to assess the influence of the pandemic on the gender-related variation in SCD rates among males and females. Methods: We used the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) to identify all patients admitted to hospitals in 2019 and 2020 with a primary diagnosis of sudden cardiac arrest. To analyze associations, we employed both logistic and linear regression methods, adjusting for potential confounding variables. We set the threshold for statistical significance at a 2-tailed p-value of 0.05. Results: Between 2019 and 2020, a total of 27,430 individuals were admitted to hospitals with a primary diagnosis of sudden cardiac arrest, with 11,705 (42.7%) of these patients being female. When factors such as age, race, hospital bed size, location and teaching status, insurance, and income level, as well as Elixhauser comorbidities and COVID-19 status were considered through multivariate regression analysis, a distinct trend emerged. In the year 2020, which was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant increase in in-hospital mortality among female patients (adjusted Odds Ratio aOR 1.34, 95% Confidence Interval CI 1.04 - 1.79). This trend was not present in the previous year, 2019, prior to the pandemic (aOR 1.03, 95% CI 0.87 - 1.22). Conclusion: Our study revealed a significant increase in mortality among female patients presenting with sudden cardiac arrest during the Covid-19 pandemic. We attribute this increase to the intricate interplay between Covid-19 and the healthcare system. While a direct association between SCD and Covid-19 is possible, it is crucial to acknowledge the indirect ramifications such as the impact of lockdown measures, alterations in behavior, and challenges faced by the healthcare system, all of which may be contributing factors.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have