Acute Coronary Syndrome Admissions and Mortality Rate During COVID-19 Pandemic in Gaza

Background: What is the nature and duration of changes to admissions for different types of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), among patients during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Gaza? Methods: The investigators analyzed data on hospital admissions in Gaza for types of ACS from August 25-2020, to October 1, 2020, that were recorded in the Alshifa Hospital Cardiology Department Service Admitted Patient Care database. Admissions were classified as ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-STEACS and we calculate the diagnostic and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rate. Results: Hospital admissions for ACS declined from rate of 99 admissions to 40 admission in 2020in this time, a reduction of 60%. During the period of declining admissions, there were reductions in the number of admissions for all types of ACS, including both STEMI and NON-STEACS, but relative and absolute reductions were larger for NSTEMI, (from 73 patients in 2019 to 26 patients in 2020) with a percent reduction of 64% In parallel, reductions were recorded in the STEMI ( from 26 patients in 2019 to 14 patients in 2020) percent reduction 46 %, the mortality rate for STEMI patient was 4% in 2019 and 21% in 2020, for non-STEMI patient was 0% in 2019 and 4% in 2020. The diagnostic coronary angiography decrease from 130 to 31 cases (76%) and PCI decrease from 35 to 18 cases (49%) during this period Conclusions: We found that significant reduction in the number of patients with ACS who were admitted to the hospital during the pandemic, but increase in mortality rate by 17% in STEMI and 4% in NON-STEACS in Gaza strip