Reduction in acute coronary syndromes during coronavirus disease 2019 global pandemic: data from the Marche region of Italy

Aims During the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, a worldwide reduction in total acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has been reported. In early 2020, Italy became the most affected country and national lockdown was declared early on in March. We described trends in ACS from all the Marche coronary catheterization laboratories (CCL) during the global pandemic. Methods Retrospective study of all consecutive patients admitted to the four regional CCL. The coronavirus disease 2019 period (20 February 2020 to 15 April 2020) was compared with the interyear control period (1 January 2020 to 19 February 2020) and to the intrayear control period (20 February 2019 to 15 April 2019). All patients with an initial diagnosis of ACS were included in the analysis, and further stratified into ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-STEMI (NSTEMI)/unstable angina. Results A total of 1239 patients were enrolled. Daily incidence of ACS was 6.1, 6.3 and 4.5 for the interyear control period, the intrayear control period and the case period, respectively. There was no difference in overall STEMI daily incidence while NSTEMI/unstable angina fell from 3.6 and 3.3-1.8 during the case period (P = 0.01). Incidence rate ratios were significantly lower when the case period was compared with the intrayear control period (incidence rate ratios: 0.49, 95% confidence interval 0.41-0.59, P = 0.001) and the interyear control period (incidence rate ratios: 0.67, 95% confidence interval 0.50-0.90, P = 0.008). Conclusion During the global pandemic there was a significant reduction in total ACS and NSTEMI in the Marche region. Unlike previous reports, there was no difference in overall access to CCL for STEMI during the same period.