Reduced Rate of Hospital Admissions for Acute Coronary Syndrome during Covid-19 Outbreak in Northern Italy

This multicenter retrospective study evaluated hospital admission rates for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) at 15 cardiovascular centers in Northern Italy during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (February 20 to March 31, 2020). Compared to control periods in early 2020 and the same timeframe in 2019, there was a significant decline in ACS admissions—13.3 vs. 18.0 and 18.9 admissions per day, respectively. The reduction affected all ACS subtypes, especially non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). After Italy's national lockdown (March 8), admissions dropped further. The findings suggest that the pandemic may have deterred patients from seeking emergency cardiac care, raising concerns about undiagnosed or untreated ACS cases contributing to excess mortality.

This multicenter retrospective study evaluated hospital admission rates for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) at 15 cardiovascular centers in Northern Italy during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (February 20 to March 31, 2020). Compared to control periods in early 2020 and the same timeframe in 2019, there was a significant decline in ACS admissions—13.3 vs. 18.0 and 18.9 admissions per day, respectively. The reduction affected all ACS subtypes, especially non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). After Italy's national lockdown (March 8), admissions dropped further. The findings suggest that the pandemic may have deterred patients from seeking emergency cardiac care, raising concerns about undiagnosed or untreated ACS cases contributing to excess mortality.