"Missing" acute coronary syndrome hospitalizations during the COVID-19 era in Greece: Medical care avoidance combined with a true reduction in incidence?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Reports from countries severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic suggest a decline in acute coronary syndrome (ACS)-related hospitalizations. The generalizability of this observation on ACS admissions and possible related causes in countries with low COVID-19 incidence are not known.

Hypothesis

ACS admissions were reduced in a country spared by COVID-19.

Methods

We conducted a nationwide study on the incidence rates of ACS-related admissions during a 6-week period of the COVID-19 outbreak and the corresponding control period in 2019 in Greece, a country with strict social measures, low COVID-19 incidence, and no excess in mortality.

Results

ACS admissions in the COVID-19 (n = 771) compared with the control (n = 1077) period were reduced overall (incidenc

SUBMITTER: Papafaklis MI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7404667 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature