Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Detection of perioperative myocardial infarction after coronary artery bypass graft surgery with magnetic resonance imaging

INTRODUÇÃO: Apesar dos avanços nas técnicas cirúrgicas e cuidados intensivos, o infarto do miocárdio perioperatório (IMPO) ainda é uma complicação da cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica (CRM), de difícil diagnóstico. Nessa situação, os parâmetros clínicos habitualmente utilizados para o seu reconhecimento têm limitações, podendo estar alterados pelo trauma cirúrgico. A ressonância magnética cardiovascular (RMC), por sua vez, detém alta acurácia para a detecção de necrose miocárdica. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a detecção de IMPO pela RMC, comparando-a com os critérios de diagnóstico clínico (DC) e com a cintilografia miocárdica, com pirofosfato de tecnécio-99m (SPECT), assim como investigar a repercussão das áreas de IMPO visualizadas à RMC sobre a função sistólica ventricular esquerda. MÉTODOS: Entre agosto de 2003 e março de 2006, foram estudados 24 pacientes adultos, portadores de doença arterial coronária crônica, com indicação de CRM. Eles foram submetidos a RMC, com técnicas de cine-ressonância e realce tardio, antes e depois da cirurgia, analisando-se o surgimento de novas áreas de necrose miocárdica (IMPO) e/ou disfunção contrátil ventricular esquerda. Também foram realizados: eletrocardiogramas (ECG) seriados, visando detectar o surgimento de novas ondas Q patológicas, depois da cirurgia; dosagens seriadas de marcadores bioquímicos de lesão miocárdica (CKMB e troponina I), para determinar o pico de sua elevação, depois da cirurgia; e SPECT, pré e pós-operatória, analisando-se a presença de novas áreas de hipercaptação do radiofármaco. O DC foi feito com base nos achados de ECG, contração segmentar do ventrículo esquerdo e níveis séricos dos marcadores bioquímicos. Os pacientes foram acompanhados por, pelo menos, 6 meses, depois da cirurgia e submetidos a uma terceira RMC, ao final deste período, para reavaliação da função ventricular. RESULTADOS: A RMC detectou IMPO em significativamente mais pacientes do que o DC (8 [33%] x 1 [4%], p=0,016). Em sua maioria, as áreas de necrose miocárdica visualizadas à RMC foram de pequena extensão (massa média de 5,7±10,2g) e padrão focal. Apesar disto, nos pacientes com IMPO à RMC, houve significativa redução pós-operatória da fração de ejeção ventricular esquerda (de 50±18 para 43±18%, p=0,044), que se manteve após 6 meses, e elevação maior do que 10 vezes o nível sérico normal dos marcadores bioquímicos, após a CRM, o que não ocorreu no grupo sem IMPO. Houve moderada correlação entre a massa de IMPO, medida pela RMC e o pico de elevação sérica dos marcadores bioquímicos (CKMB: r=0,705, p<0,001; troponina I: r=0,625, p=0,003). Observou-se moderada concordância diagnóstica entre a RMC e a SPECT para a detecção de necrose miocárdica perioperatória (Kappa=0,46). As características clínicas e cirúrgicas foram semelhantes entre os dois grupos, com exceção do perfil lipídico e a dose média de estatina (sinvastatina), em uso pelos pacientes, antes da cirurgia (significativamente menor no grupo com IMPO à RMC). CONCLUSÕES: A RMC revelou-se um método útil para o diagnóstico de IMPO, que foi subestimado pelo DC. O achado de necrose perioperatória à RMC associou-se a significativa diminuição da função sistólica ventricular esquerda e grande elevação sérica dos marcadores bioquímicos de lesão miocárdica.INTRODUCTION: Despite advances in surgical technique and intensive care, perioperative myocardial infarction (POMI) remains a complication of coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) with a challenging diagnosis. In this condition, clinical parameters usually utilized in the detection of POMI have limitations, since they can be affected by surgical trauma. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI), on the other hand, provides highly accurate detection of myocardial necrosis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate POMI findings on CMRI and compare them to clinical diagnosis (CD) and technetium-99m pyrophosphate myocardial scintigrams (SPECT), as well as investigate the impact of POMI areas detected by CMRI on left ventricular systolic function. METHODS: Between August 2003 and March 2006, 24 adult patients with stable coronary artery disease, referred for CABG surgery, were studied. CMRI with cine and delayed-enhancement techniques was performed, before and after surgery, in order to evaluate the occurence of new areas of myocardial necrosis (POMI) and/or left ventricular systolic disfunction. Additional procedures included: serial electrocardiograms (ECG), to assess the appearance of new pathologic Q waves after surgery; serial measurements of biochemical markers of myocardial injury (CKMB and troponin I), to determine their peak serum levels after surgery; and SPECT, before and after surgery, in order to analyse the occurence of new areas of radionuclide increased uptake. CD was based on ECG findings, left ventricle regional contraction results and serum levels of biochemical markers. Patients were followed for, at least, 6 months after surgery, and a third CMRI scan was then repeated, in order to reassess ventricular function. RESULTS: CMRI revealed POMI in significantly more patients than CD (8 [33%] x 1 [4%], p=0.016). In most cases, areas of myocardial necrosis detected by CMRI were small (mean mass of 5.7±10.2g) and had focal distribution. Notwithstanding, patients who presented with POMI on CMRI had a significant decrease in postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (from 50±18 to 43±18%, p=0.044), which persisted after 6 months, and a more than ten-fold increase in serum levels of biochemical markers after CABG. There was a moderate correlation between POMI mass measured by CMRI and peak serum levels of biochemical markers (CKMB: r=0.705, p<0.001; troponin I: r=0.625, p=0.003). Also, there was a moderate diagnostic agreement between CMRI and SPECT for the detection of perioperative myocardial necrosis (Kappa=0.46). Patient clinical and surgical characteristics were similar between groups, except for plasma lipid profile and mean statin (simvastatin) dosage before surgery (which was significantly lower in the group with POMI on CMRI). CONCLUSIONS: CMRI was found to be a useful tool in the diagnosis of POMI, which was underestimated by CD. Detection of perioperative myocardial necrosis by CMRI was associated with a significant decrease in left ventricular systolic function and high serum levels of biochemical markers of myocardial injury

Ressonância magnética vs cintilografia com pirofosfato marcado com tecnécio-99m para a detecção de necrose miocárdica perioperatória Magnetic resonance vs technetium-99m pyrophosphate scintigraphy in the detection of perioperative myocardial necrosis

FUNDAMENTO: O infarto do miocárdio perioperatório (IMPO) é uma complicação da cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica (CRM) com potencial impacto prognóstico. A cintilografia miocárdica (CM) com pirofosfato marcado com tecnécio-99m é utilizada no diagnóstico de IMPO, mas demonstra limitada sensibilidade para lesões subendocárdicas. A ressonância magnética cardiovascular (RMC), por sua vez, detém alta acurácia para a detecção de necrose miocárdica. OBJETIVO: Comparar a RMC e a CM para a detecção de IMPO após CRM. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 24 pacientes portadores de doença arterial coronária crônica, com a técnica de realce tardio pela RMC e com a CM, antes e depois da CRM, analisando-se o surgimento de áreas de necrose miocárdica perioperatória (IMPO). Mensuraram-se também marcadores bioquímicos de lesão miocárdica (CKMB e troponina I), antes e depois da cirurgia. RESULTADOS: Dezenove pacientes completaram o estudo. Desses, 6 (32%) apresentaram IMPO à RMC, e 4 (21%) à CM (p = NS). Dos 323 segmentos do ventrículo esquerdo avaliados, 17 (5,3%) exibiram necrose perioperatória à RMC, e 7 (2,2%) à CM (p = 0,013). Observou-se moderada concordância entre os métodos (kappa = 0,46), havendo divergência, quanto ao diagnóstico de IMPO, em 4 (21%) casos, a maioria com pequenas áreas de necrose perioperatória à RMC, não visualizadas à CM. Em todos os casos com IMPO à RMC, houve elevação significativa de CKMB e troponina I. CONCLUSÃO: Houve moderada concordância diagnóstica entre os métodos para a detecção de IMPO, mas a RMC permitiu a visualização de pequenas áreas de necrose miocárdica perioperatória, não identificadas pela CM e associadas à elevação de marcadores bioquímicos de lesão miocárdica.<br>BACKGROUND: Perioperative myocardial infarction (POMI) is a complication of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with a potential prognostic impact. Technetium-99m pyrophosphate myocardial scintigraphy (MS) is used in the diagnosis of POMI; however it shows a limited sensitivity for subendocardial lesions. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI), in turn, has a high accuracy in the detection of myocardial necrosis. OBJECTIVE: To compare CMRI and MS for the detection of POMI after CABG. METHODS: A total of 24 patients with chronic coronary artery disease were studied using the delayed contrast enhanced CMRI and MS before and after CABG by analyzing the development of areas of perioperative myocardial necrosis (POMI). Biochemical markers of myocardial injury (CKMB and troponin I) were also determined before and after surgery. RESULTS: Nineteen patients completed the study. Of these, 6 (32%) presented POMI on CMRI and 4 (21%) on MS (p = NS). Of the 323 left ventricular segments assessed, 17 (5.3%) showed perioperative necrosis on CMRI and 7 (2.2%) on MS (p = 0.013). Moderate agreement was observed between the methods (kappa = 0.46). There was disagreement regarding the diagnosis of POMI in 4 (21%) cases, most of them with small areas of perioperative necrosis on CMRI which were not visualized on MS. In all cases with POMI on CMRI, significant CKMB and troponin I elevations were observed. CONCLUSION: Moderate diagnostic agreement was observed between the methods for the detection of POMI, but CMRI enabled visualization of small areas of perioperative myocardial necrosis which were not identified on MS and were associated with elevation of biochemical markers of myocardial injury

Reduction of cardiac imaging tests during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of Italy. Findings from the IAEA Non-invasive Cardiology Protocol Survey on COVID-19 (INCAPS COVID)

Background: In early 2020, COVID-19 massively hit Italy, earlier and harder than any other European country. This caused a series of strict containment measures, aimed at blocking the spread of the pandemic. Healthcare delivery was also affected when resources were diverted towards care of COVID-19 patients, including intensive care wards. Aim of the study: The aim is assessing the impact of COVID-19 on cardiac imaging in Italy, compare to the Rest of Europe (RoE) and the World (RoW). Methods: A global survey was conducted in May–June 2020 worldwide, through a questionnaire distributed online. The survey covered three periods: March and April 2020, and March 2019. Data from 52 Italian centres, a subset of the 909 participating centres from 108 countries, were analyzed. Results: In Italy, volumes decreased by 67% in March 2020, compared to March 2019, as opposed to a significantly lower decrease (p &lt; 0.001) in RoE and RoW (41% and 40%, respectively). A further decrease from March 2020 to April 2020 summed up to 76% for the North, 77% for the Centre and 86% for the South. When compared to the RoE and RoW, this further decrease from March 2020 to April 2020 in Italy was significantly less (p = 0.005), most likely reflecting the earlier effects of the containment measures in Italy, taken earlier than anywhere else in the West. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic massively hit Italy and caused a disruption of healthcare services, including cardiac imaging studies. This raises concern about the medium- and long-term consequences for the high number of patients who were denied timely diagnoses and the subsequent lifesaving therapies and procedures