Emergency department visits of newly diagnosed cardiovascular disease patients in Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the emergency department (ED) visits of cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients. The customized data of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) from 2017 to 2020 were analyzed. CVD patients were defined by the code 'V192' based on the NHIS coverage benefit expansion policy. The number of ED visits of CVD patients, as well as executed procedures in 2020 (during the pandemic), were compared to the corresponding average numbers in 2018 and 2019 (prepandemic). Stratification by age group, residential area and hospital location was performed. The number of ED visits of newly diagnosed CVD patients decreased by 2.1% nationwide in 2020 (2018-2019: 97,041; 2020: 95,038) and decreased the most (by 14.1%) in March (2018-2019: 8539

SUBMITTER: Baek JY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10764744 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature