The impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular disorders in patients who admitted to cardiology outpatient unit

Abstract

The coronavirus outbreak is an important challenge and has affected the world since December 2019. Little is known, however, regarding the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on cardiovascular disorders in the cardiology outpatient unit. This trial aimed to examine the nature of patients who were admitted the cardiology outpatient unit before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Totally, 6254 patients who were admitted to the cardiology outpatient unit from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 and January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 were included. The patients who admitted from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 were defined as pre-pandemic group. The patients who were admitted from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 were defined as post-pandemic group. There were 2575 (mean age 57.9±16.9 years, male 47%) patients in pre-pandemic group, while 3679 (mean age 59.1±17.0 years, male 47%) patients in post-pandemic group. The patients in post-pandemic group were significantly older than those in pre-pandemic group (60.0 (46.0-71.0) vs. 62.0 (47.0-73.0) years, p = 0.005). The number of patients who were admitted for hypertension (HT) significantly higher in post-pandemic group compared to pre-pandemic group (930 (36%) vs. 1646 (45%), p<0.001). The new-onset HT was significantly higher in post-pandemic group than in pre-pandemic group (407 (11%) vs. 186 (7%), p<0.001). Admission for atrial fibrillation (AF) was significantly increased after coronavirus pandemic when compared to before (324 (13%) vs. 670 (18%), p<0.001). New-onset AF was also significantly higher in post-pandemic group than in pre-pandemic group (35 (1%) vs. 95 (3%), p=0.001). Not all cardiovascular disorders but admission for HT and AF were significantly increased in the post-pandemic period. With the end of pandemic, physicians should be more careful in the risk prediction of patients who potentially have HT and AF in cardiology outpatient unit.