The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiology services

Omar Fersia; Sue Bryant; Rachael Nicholson; Karen McMeeken; Carolyn Brown; Brenda Donaldson; Aaron Jardine; Valerie Grierson; Vanessa Whalen; Alistair Mackay

doi:10.1136/openhrt-2020-001359

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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiology services

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiology services

Omar Fersia, Sue Bryant, Rachael Nicholson, Karen McMeeken, Carolyn Brown, Brenda Donaldson, Aaron Jardine, Valerie Grierson, Vanessa Whalen and Alistair Mackay

Open heart, Vol.7(2), p.e001359

08/27/2020

DOI: 10.1136/openhrt-2020-001359

PMCID: PMC7454176

PMID: 32855212

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Abstract

ObjectiveThe COVID-19 pandemic resulted in prioritisation of National Health Service (NHS) resources to cope with the surge in infected patients. However, there have been no studies in the UK looking at the effect of the COVID-19 work pattern on the provision of cardiology services. We aimed to assess the impact of the pandemic on cardiology services and clinical activity.MethodsWe analysed key performance indicators in cardiology services in a single centre in the UK in the periods prior to and during lockdown to assess reduction or changes in service provision.ResultsThere has been a greater than 50% drop in the number of patients presenting to cardiology and those diagnosed with myocardial infarction. All areas of cardiology service provision sustained significant reductions, which included outpatient clinics, investigations, procedures and cardiology community services such as heart failure and cardiac rehabilitation.ConclusionsAs ischaemic heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death nationally and globally, cardiology services need to prepare for a significant increase in workload in the recovery phase and develop new pathways to urgently help those adversely affected by the changes in service provision.

Details

Title: Subtitle: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiology services
Creators: Omar Fersia - Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary
Sue Bryant - Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary
Rachael Nicholson - Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary
Karen McMeeken - Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary
Carolyn Brown - Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary
Brenda Donaldson - Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary
Aaron Jardine - Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary
Valerie Grierson - Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary
Vanessa Whalen - Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary
Alistair Mackay - Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Open heart, Vol.7(2), p.e001359
DOI: 10.1136/openhrt-2020-001359
PMID: 32855212
PMCID: PMC7454176
NLM abbreviation: Open Heart
ISSN: 2398-595X
eISSN: 2053-3624
Language: English
Date published: 08/27/2020
Academic Unit: Surgery
Record Identifier: 9984321863502771

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