Chest Pain Admissions During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: Cairns Hospital in Far North Queensland has a catchment area of approximately 14, 900 square kilometres. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease in Far North Queensland is higher than that of the rest of Australia. The first case of COVID-19 in Australia was on 25 January 2020 and on 22 March 2020, the Australian Government issued strict social distancing restrictions along with the “stay home stay safe campaign.” We assessed the impact of COVID-19 and the public health campaign on cardiac admissions to the Cairns Hospital. Methods: A retrospective audit was completed of all chest pain presentations to ED between 11 January 2020 to 31 April 2020. Results: There were 1,028 presentations to ED with undifferentiated chest pain of which 863 were potentially cardiac in origin. Compared to the two weeks prior (between 11 January–25 January), we identified a 58% reduction in chest pain presentations, 67% reduction in acute coronary syndromes (ACS), 81% reduction in cardiac admissions, and a 75% reduction in inpatient angiograms. Populations particularly affected include those over the age of 64 (57% reduction) and see graph. Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a not only a reduction in cardiac admissions but also in presentations for ACS. A reduction in chest pain presentations and inpatient angiograms was also observed. This study identifies the importance of public education for chest pain hospital presentations during future pandemics. [Formula presented]