The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Importance of Telemedicine in Managing Acute ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients: Preliminary Experience and Literature Review.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-COV-2), has compromised health care systems and normal management of patients with cardiovascular diseases [1–3]. Patients with non-communicable diseases, including acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are vulnerable to this stress [4, 5]. Acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the most critical type of AMI, is associated with high mortality even with modern medicine [6–8]. Timely reperfusion therapy is critical for STEMI patients because a short ischemia time is associated with better clinical outcomes and lower acute and long -term mortality [9–12]. The COVID-19 pandemic placed the management of STEMI patients in a difficult situation due to the need to balance timely reperfusion therapy and maintaining strict infection control practices [13, 14]. Telemedicine, which is used to deliver health care services using information or communication technology, provides an opportunity to carry out the evaluation, diagnosis, and even monitor the patients after discharge when social distancing is needed [15]. In this article, we reported our preliminary experience with the usefulness of telemedicine in managing STEMI patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also provided a review of this topic.