Acute coronary syndromes did not decrease during COVID-19 pandemic in an isolated Greek population

Abstract

Introduction: There are worldwide reports that hospital admissions for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chios is a Greek island with only one confirmed coronavirus case during the lockdown. This study aimed to compare admissions for ACS in Chios General Hospital, Greece, between the COVID-19 lockdown period and the same period in the previous year.
Methods: Retrospective record analysis of an isolated insular population referring to the only district hospital on the island. ACS incidence, type, and complications were recorded and compared between 26/02/2020-04/05/2020 and between 26/02/2019-04/05/2019.
Results: ACS hospital admissions in 2020 were 1.72/10,000 inhabitants vs. 1.03/10,000 inhabitants in 2019 (p=0.317). No differences in ACS type, duration from symptom onset to first medical contact, hemodynamic status, left ventricular function at discharge, or complications were recorded.
Conclusion: The incidence of ACS did not decrease and the prognosis was not worse during the COVID-19 pandemic in a strictly isolated Greek insular population not overwhelmed by coronavirus cases.