Substantial decline in hospital admissions for heart failure accompanied by increased community mortality during COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

We hypothesized that a decline in admissions with heart failure during COVID-19 pandemic would lead to a reciprocal rise in mortality for patients with heart failure in the community.

Methods and results

We used National Heart Failure Audit data to identify 36 974 adults who had a hospital admission with a primary diagnosis of heart failure between February and May in either 2018, 2019, or 2020. Hospital admissions for heart failure in 2018/19 averaged 160/day but were much lower in 2020, reaching a nadir of 64/day on 27 March 2020 [incidence rate ratio (IRR): 0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.38-0.42]. The proportion discharged on guideline-recommended pharmacotherapies was similar in 2018/19 compared to the same period in 2020. Between 1 February-2020 and 31 May 2

SUBMITTER: Shoaib A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8244536 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature