@article{Cerci_R-2021_64621,
title = {COVID-19’s Impact on the Diagnosis of Heart Disease in Latin America An INCAPS COVID Sub analysis},
author = {Cerci, R. and Vitola , J. and Paez, D. and Bittencourt, M. and Sierra-Galan, L. and Carrascosa, P. and Campisi, R. and Gutierrez-Villamil, C. and Peix, A. and Chambers, D. and Velez, M. and Alvarado, C. and Ventura, A. and Maldonado, A. and Castanos, A. and Hirschfeld, C. and Randazzo, M. and Williams, M.},
month = {dec},
year = {2021},
abstract = {Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the delivery of care for cardiovascular diseases in Latin America. However, the effect of the pandemic on the diagnostic cardiac procedure volumes has not been quantified. Objective: To assess (1) the COVID-19’s impact on Latin America cardiac diagnostic volumes and (2) determine its relationship with COVID-19 case incidence, and with social distancing measures.Methods: The International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a worldwide survey assessing changes in cardiac diagnostic volumes resulting from COVID-19. Cardiac iagnostic volumes were obtained from participating sites for March and April 2020 and compared to March 2019. Social distancing data were collected from Google COVID-19 community mobility reports and COVID-19 incidence per country from the Our World in Data.Results: Surveys were submitted from 194 centers performing cardiac diagnostic procedures, in 19 Latin American countries. Procedure volumes decreased 36% from March 2019 to March 2020, and 82% from March 2019 to April 2020. The greatest decreases occurred in echocardiogram stress tests (91%), exercise treadmill tests (88%) and CT calcium scores (87%) with slight variations between Latin American sub-regions. Changes in social distancing patterns (p&lt;0.001) were more strongly associated with volume reduction than COVID-19 incidence (p=0.003). Conclusions: COVID-19 was associated with a significant reduction in cardiac diagnostic procedures in Latin America, more related to social distancing than to the COVID-19 incidence. A better balance and timing of social distancing measures and planning to maintain access to medical care is warranted during a pandemic surge, especially in high cardiovascular mortality regions.},
pages = {745-753},
volume = {118},
issue = {4},
journal = {Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia},
publisher = {SciELO },
url = {https://doi.org/10.36660/abc.20210388},
}
