COVID impact on pattern of ischemic heart disease in comparable period

Aim: To compare the impact of COVID-19 on pattern of Ischemic Heart Disease in comparable period by assessing the incidence, severity of symptoms and in-hospital mortality of Ischemic Heart Disease patients before and during COVID-19. Background: COVID-19 directly or indirectly, affects the cardiovascular system it not only causes myocardial injury but also reduces the incidence and increasing the severity and mortality of Ischemic Heart Disease patients and it was seen that pneumonia and influenza infections increases the risk of acute MI by six folds. Methods: Data collected from health records of patients admitted in National Heart Institute from Ischemic Heart Disease in comparable four months period of before (Oct 2019-Jan 2020) and during (Oct 2020-Jan 2021)COVID-19 by using a self-structured bio physiological tool. The total samples taken were 421 out of which 237 were before COVID-19 and 184 were during COVID-19. STARD checklist used to report the study. Results: The major findings of the study reveals that incidence of ischemic heart disease indicates that before COVID-19 incidence was 13.32% whereas the incidence of ischemic heart disease during COVID-19 was 12.69%. This means incidence decreases during COVID-19 as compared to before COVID-19. Severity scores measured before COVID-19 showed the majority of the patient (61.2%) having no severity as compared to during COVID-19 whereas the majority of patients having mild (41.8%) and moderate (1.1%) severity as compared to before COVID-19. Mortality of ischemic heart disease indicates that before COVID-19 in-hospital mortality was 1.28% whereas in-hospital mortality of ischemic heart disease during COVID-19 was 0.54%. Conclusion: From findings the study interprets that incidence and in-hospital mortality of Ischemic Heart Disease patients decreases during COVID-19 as compared to before COVID-19, whereas the severity of Ischemic Heart Disease symptoms increases during COVID-19 as compared to before COVID-19. Implication: Patients are staying away from the hospital due to fear of contracting the infection which in return act as a major issue of increasing Ischemic Heart Disease severity so, the nurses should involve in a proactive campaign to alleviate patient concern and encourage them to seek timely medical attention despite the COVID-19 pandemic.