Abstract 15848: Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on D2B Activations in a Single, Tertiary Care, Urban Medical Center in the United States

Abstract

Introduction: Initial reports suggest that patients may delay seeking medical attention during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Our aim was to determine if the COVID-19 outbreak is associated with a higher incidence of late presentations for patients with STEMI, greater need for mechanical circulatory support and PCI. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated consecutive patients that presented to a single, academic medical center with acute chest pain and ST-segment elevation on ECG from March 15 through June 17 in years 2019 and 2020. All patients were referred for emergent coronary angiography and the final cohort consisted of 32 patients. Medical records were reviewed to determine time between symptom onset and hospital arrival, need for PCI and/or mechanical circulatory support, total fluoroscopy time and volume of contrast administration during catheterization. Results: There was no significant difference in age, gender, cardiac risk factors or history of CAD between the cohorts that presented in 2019 compared with 2020 (Table 1). The mean time from symptom onset to arrival in the ED was 6.5 ± 8 and 9.2 ± 17 hours in 2019 and 2020 (p=0.55), respectively. PCI was performed during the index catheterization in 5 (50%) and 21 (95%) patients in 2019 and 2020 (p=0.01), respectively. Mean volume of contrast media used per case was 142 ± 65 ml in 2019 and 237 ± 104 ml in 2020 (p=0.017). There was a trend towards greater need for mechanical circulatory support and total fluoroscopy time during cases in 2020 (Table 1). Conclusions: In patients with suspected STEMI during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a trend towards longer duration between symptom onset and arrival to the ED. More patients presenting with ST-segment elevation required PCI and there was a trend towards greater utilization of mechanical circulatory support. These findings may reflect a decline in access to outpatient services and/or delays in patients seeking care for acute chest pain.