ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in times of COVID-19: back to the last century? A call for attention

Community and healthcare system-related factors feeding the phenomenon of evading medical attention for time-dependent emergencies during COVID-19 crisis

“…Reduced family contact and supports during lockdown and the stress associated with stay-at-home orders are potential factors for delayed and decreased presentations for time-dependent medical emergencies. 19 Low levels of exertion at home might not trigger cardiac symptoms and impaired manifestations of STEMI related to neurotropic and neuroinvasive symptoms of COVID-19 can play a role in those affected with the disease. 16 17 19 Misinterpretation of STEMI being relatively benign compared with COVID-19 disease along with the fear of infection spread via hospitalised patients and healthcare workers is a common perception among community dwellers.…”

Effect of delayed obstetric labor care during the COVID‐19 pandemic on perinatal outcomes

“…Since the emergence of COVID-19, the Guatemala Ministry of Health (MOH) has reported a decreased uptake of antenatal care (ANC) at clinics and health posts in Sololá, a mainly indigenous region in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, due to both fear of interpersonal contact and limited availability of MOH staff due to COVID-19infection. This is alarming given that Mayan women living in rural Guatemala have a maternal mortality rate double that of their non-Mayan counterparts (163 per 100 000 compared to 78 per 100 000) 3.…”

“…This phenomenon appears to occur worldwide-it has been reported that delayed care in 12 children in Italy resulted in four deaths and delayed care among patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. [1][2][3] Regarding pregnancy, it has been reported that one third of pregnant women started working from home due to fear of being infected. 4 Based on this, our preliminary perception is that our population also feared COVID-19 infection.…”

Comparison of Clinical Outcomes in Patients with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and the Use of a Telemedicine App Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic at a Center in Beijing, China, from August 2019 to March 2020

“…The increased pre-hospital delays were mostly related to the SCT, while the SCT to FMC arrival time and the FMC to hospital arrival time did not increase. Traditional pre-hospital delays include patient delays and emergency services delays [ 32 , 33 ]. In the present study, pre-hospital delays, including the SCT to the FMC and the FMC to hospital arrival time, were not influenced by COVID-19.…”