Lukenda, J.; Borovac, J.A. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Cardiovascular Healthcare in Croatia: A Comprehensive Nationwide Survey. Diseases2024, 12, 42.
Lukenda, J.; Borovac, J.A. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Cardiovascular Healthcare in Croatia: A Comprehensive Nationwide Survey. Diseases 2024, 12, 42.
Lukenda, J.; Borovac, J.A. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Cardiovascular Healthcare in Croatia: A Comprehensive Nationwide Survey. Diseases2024, 12, 42.
Lukenda, J.; Borovac, J.A. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Cardiovascular Healthcare in Croatia: A Comprehensive Nationwide Survey. Diseases 2024, 12, 42.
Abstract
The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the cardiovascular healthcare services in Croatia has not been systematically examined. In this study, we compared utilization and provision of cardiovascular services in Croatia during the pre-pandemic period (2017 to end of 2019) and pandemic period (2020 to end of 2021) by using large nationwide data from the Croatian Health Insurance Fund, an institution covering 95% of all insurance claims in Croatia. We report that the use of advanced heart failure treatment modalities increased while the number of coronary angiographies decreased while the number of performed percutaneous coronary interventions remained similar, even increasing in the setting of acute myocardial infarction, comparing pandemic to pre-pandemic period. Similarly, the number of transcatheter aortic valve implantations increased significantly during the pandemic era. There was a significant increase in laboratory diagnostic testing with troponin and natriuretic peptide assays during the pandemic period while the use of most cardiovascular services remained stable or only slightly decreased, compared to pre-pandemic period. These data suggest that Croatian cardiovascular healthcare services during COVID-19 pandemic showed resilience and managed to maintain or even increase the number of various diagnostic and interventional procedures despite the widespread societal and logistical challenges encountered during pandemic.
Public Health and Healthcare, Public Health and Health Services
Copyright:
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