Background: What is the nature and duration of changes to admissions for different types of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), among patients during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Gaza?

Methods: The investigators analyzed data on hospital admissions in Gaza for types of ACS from August 25-2020, to October 1, 2020, that were recorded in the Alshifa Hospital Cardiology Department Service Admitted Patient Care database. Admissions were classifiedas ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-STEACS and we calculate the diagnostic and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) rate.

Results: Hospital admissions for ACS declined from rate of 99 admissions to 40 admission in 2020 in this time, a reduction of 60%. During the period of declining admissions, there were reductions in the number of admissions for all types of ACS, including both STEMI and NONSTEACS, but relative and absolute reductions were larger for NSTEMI, (from 73 patients in 2019 to 26 patients in 2020) with a percent reduction of 64% In parallel, reductions were recorded in the STEMI ( from 26 patients in 2019 to 14 patients in 2020) percent reduction 46 %, the mortality rate for STEMI patient was 4% in 2019 and 21% in 2020, for non-STEMI patient was 0% in 2019 and 4% in 2020.

The diagnostic coronary angiography decrease from 130 to 31 cases (76%) and PCI decrease from 35 to 18 cases (49%) during this period.

Conclusions: We found that significant reduction in the number of patients with ACS who were admitted to the hospital during the pandemic, but increase in mortality rate by 17% in STEMI and 4% in NON-STEACS in Gaza strip.