Changing Landscape of Interventional Cardiology Practice in COVID-19 Era: A Middle Eastern Perspective
Presenter
Zainab Atiyah Dakhil, FIBMS Cardiol, Al Kindy College of Medicine, Baghdad, Iraq
Zainab Atiyah Dakhil, FIBMS Cardiol1, Hasan Ali Farhan, FICMS Cardiol2, Firas AlObaidi3, Aram J. Mirza, M.D.4, Ahmed AlHaideri5, Ahmed N Rgeeb6, Ali Alshamari7, Edmon Khammo Benjamin8, Ghassan Al-Tamimi9, Hameed Hassan10, Haydar AA Nassar11, Hussein Alkenazwa, MBBS12, Khalid I. Amber, Ph.D., FSCAI13, Mohammed Kadhim8 and Wisam Tajuldin14, (1)Al Kindy College of Medicine, Baghdad, Iraq, (2)Scientific Council of Cardiology, Iraqi Board for Medical Specializations, Baghdad, Iraq, (3)Basra Cardiac Centre, Basra, Iraq, (4)Sulaimany Center for Heart Disease, Sulaimany, Iraq, (5)Karbala Cardiac Centre, Karbala, Iraq, (6)Najaf Heart Centre, Najaf, Iraq, (7)Ibn Al Nafees Cardiac Centre, Baghdad, Iraq, (8)Ibn Al Bitar Cardiac Centre, Baghdad, Iraq, (9)Baghdad Heart Centre, Baghdad, Iraq, (10)Diwaniyah Cardiac Centre, Qadisiyah, Iraq, (11)Missan Heart Centre, Missan, Iraq, (12)Nasiriyah Heart Centre, Dhi Qar, Iraq, (13)Al Najaf Center for Cardiac Surgery and Trans Catheter Therapy, Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf, Iraq, (14)Hilla Heart Centre, Babylon, Iraq
Keywords: COVID-19, Coronary, Occupational Health & Safety, Quality and Training and Professional Development
Background:
Since WHO declared COVID-19 as pandemic, the healthcare system is moving into a new era. There is only limited data globally in general and from the Middle East in particular regarding impact of this crisis on interventional cardiology practice. In response, this study sought to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on coronary procedural profile.
Methods:
Number and type of all coronary procedures done in 10 Iraqi cardiac centers were retrospectively collected for period of 6 months. From December 2019-February 2020 represents the prior to COVID-19 period while from March-May 2020 represents during COVID-19 period in Iraq
Results:
A total of 17184 procedures were done in recruited centres,68.9% before pandemic vs 31.1% during pandemic; with highest reduction of procedures seen in April (after lockdown initiation). Highest drop observed in coronary angiography (CA) by 63.5% while elective PCI and primary PCI (PPCI) reduced by 58% and 2.6% respectively. Five out of 10 centers are teaching centers. With respect to teaching centers, total procedures dropped by 60.5%, elective procedures reduced by 67.2% and PPCI reduced by 4.5% while in non-teaching centers total procedures and elective procedures reduced by 37.4% and 43.1% respectively and PPCI increased by 2%
Conclusions:
All coronary procedures dropped in COVID-19 era mainly the elective procedures. Teaching centers had more drop in total and elective procedures while PPCI only partially affected. This provides insight to impact of pandemic on cardiac healthcare services and called for action to provide necessary intervention without breaching pandemic protocols to improve cardiovascular outcomes
