Impact of COVID-19 on primary percutaneous coronary intervention centres in the UK : a survey

Adlan, A.M.
Lim, V.G.
Dhillon, G.
Kurdi, H.
Doolub, G.
Elamin, N.
Aziz, A.
Sastry, S.
Davis, G.

Publication date

June 2020

DOI

10.5837/bjc.2020.017

Publisher

Medinews (Cardiology), Ltd.

Abstract

During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the British Cardiovascular Society/British Cardiovascular Intervention Society and the British Heart Rhythm Society recommended to postpone non-urgent elective work and that primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) should remain the treatment of choice for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We sought to determine the impact of COVID-19 on the primary PCI service within the United Kingdom (UK). A survey of 43 UK primary PCI centres was performed and a significant reduction in the number of cath labs open was found (pre-COVID 3.6±1.8 vs. post-COVID 2.1±0.8; p<0.001) with only 64% of cath labs remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic. Primary PCI re...