@article{Williams_M-2021_45377,
title = {Impact of COVID-19 on the imaging diagnosis of cardiac disease in Europe},
author = {Williams, M. and Shaw, L. and Hirschfeld, C. and Maurovich-Horvat, P. and Nørgaard, B. and Pontone, G. and Jimenez-Heffernan, A. and Sinitsyn , V. and Sergienko , V. and Ansheles, A. and Bax, J. and Buechel, R. and Milan, E. and Slart, R. and Nicol, E. and Bucciarelli-Ducci, C. and Pynda, Y. and Better, N. and Cerci, R. and Dorbala, S. and Raggi, P. and Villines, T. and Vitola, J. and Malkovskiy, E. and Goebel, B. and Cohen, Y. and Randazzo, M. and Pascual, T. and Dondi, M. and Paez, D. and Einstein, A.},
month = {aug},
year = {2021},
abstract = {Objectives We aimed to explore the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on cardiac diagnostic testing and practice and to assess its impact in different regions in Europe. Methods The online survey organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Division of Human Health collected information on changes in cardiac imaging procedural volumes between March 2019 and March/April 2020. Data were collected from 909 centres in 108 countries. Results Centres in Northern and Southern Europe were more likely to cancel all outpatient activities compared to Western and Eastern Europe. There was a greater reduction in total procedure volumes in Europe compared to the rest of the world in March 2020 (45% vs 41%, p=0.003), with a more marked reduction in Southern Europe (58%), but by April 2020 this was similar in Europe and the rest of the world (69% vs 63%, p=0.261). Regional variations were apparent between imaging modalities, but the largest reductions were in Southern Europe for nearly all modalities. In March 2020, location in Southern Europe was the only independent predictor of the reduction in procedure volume. However, in April 2020 lower gross domestic product and higher COVID-19 deaths were the only independent predictors. Conclusion The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on care of patients with cardiac disease, with substantial regional variations in Europe. This has potential long-term implications for patients and plans are required to enable the diagnosis of non-COVID-19 conditions during the ongoing pandemic.},
volume = {8},
issue = {2},
journal = {Openheart},
publisher = {BMJ Publishing Group},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/openhrt-2021-001681},
}
