Trends in Acute Coronary Syndrome Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: the Role of Infection or Vaccination
摘要
This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, with particular emphasis on COVID-19 infection history and vaccination status.
Materials and methodsThis retrospective, single-center study included patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) and hospitalized with a diagnosis of ACS during the pre-pandemic period (2018–2019) and the post-pandemic period (2023–2024). Patients were compared in terms of age, sex, ACS subtype, comorbidities, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), length of hospital stay, and mortality. In the post-pandemic cohort, subgroup analyses were performed based on COVID-19 infection status and vaccination status.
ResultsA total of 4,408 patients were included, of whom 1,164 (26.4%) were female and 3,244 (73.6%) were male, with a mean age of 59.1 ± 12.5 years. No significant differences were observed between the pre- and post-pandemic periods regarding age, sex distribution, total ACS case numbers, or MACE rates. However, a statistically significant increase in STEMI-related hospitalizations and a significant decrease in the proportion of NSTEMI cases were observed in the post-pandemic period. The length of hospital stay for coronary artery disease was significantly longer after the pandemic, whereas mortality rates did not differ significantly between periods.
ConclusionOur findings reveal no significant correlation between COVID-19 vaccination or previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and the incidence of ACS presentations. Additionally, we observed no notable influence on clinical outcomes or medium- to long-term MACE rates among patients hospitalized with ACS in the post-pandemic period. While these findings suggest no adverse association between vaccination status and clinical outcomes among patients presenting with ACS, further large-scale, multicenter studies are needed to clarify potential long-term associations.