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

Emerging technologies in learning: its impact on cognition and culture, Part 2

This symposium will be based on the concept of writing an edited book. Editors, chapter authors and peer reviewers will work in collaboration towards the publication of this book. Papers presented at the symposium will provide an overview of the different sections of the book. This book will encompass the technological influence on learning and cognition from a cultural prospective. This book weaves together different kinds of learning technologies with the thread of cultural diversity to meet the local and global needs for education. Different chapters under each section of the book will deal with different issues related to that particular section. Case studies will be included to capture the paradigm shift in education with technological advancements and its influence on learning, language, cognition, culture, and more. Critical reflection, analysis and suggested research approaches will propose ways and means to handle the present and indicate the trends for future

Emerging technologies in learning: its impact on cognition and culture, Part 1

This symposium will be based on the concept of writing an edited book. Editors, chapter authors and peer reviewers will work in collaboration towards the publication of this book. Papers presented at the symposium will provide an overview of the different sections of the book. This book will encompass the technological influence on learning and cognition from a cultural prospective. This book weaves together different kinds of learning technologies with the thread of cultural diversity to meet the local and global needs for education. Different chapters under each section of the book will deal with different issues related to that particular section. Case studies will be included to capture the paradigm shift in education with technological advancements and its influence on learning, language, cognition, culture, and more. Critical reflection, analysis and suggested research approaches will propose ways and means to handle the present and indicate the trends for future