The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Myocardial Infarction Care in Kosovo

Background and Aim: Studies worldwide have documented a reduction in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to assess AMI admissions, management, and in-hospital outcomes in Kosovo during the pandemic period.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective single-centre study including all consecutive AMI admissions from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2020 at the Clinic of Cardiology, University Clinical Centre of Kosovo, the only public tertiary primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) centre in the country. The pre-pandemic (PP) period was defined as 1 January 2018-12 March 2020 and the ongoing pandemic (OP) period as 13 March-31 December 2020. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, angiographic, and outcome data were collected. In-hospital mortality was defined as death between admission and discharge. Interrupted time-series analyses were performed.