Myocardial infarction throughout 1 year of the COVID-19 pandemic: French nationwide study of hospitalization rates, prognosis and 90-day mortality rates()

BACKGROUND: Studies reported a decrease in hospital admissions for myocardial infarction (MI) in early 2020 as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, mainly restricted to the beginning of the pandemic. AIMS: To describe national trends in hospital admissions for MI in 2020, and to compare patient characteristics, in-hospital prognosis and 90-day mortality between patients who had an MI in 2020 and those admitted in 2017–2019. METHODS: All patients hospitalized for MI in France from 2017 to 2020 were selected from the national hospital discharge database. Analyses compared temporal trends in MI admissions, in-hospital cardiac complications and mortality rates in 2020 versus 2017–2019. RESULTS: In 2020, 94,747 patients were hospitalized for MI, corresponding to a 6% decrease in MI admissions compared with 2017–19. This decrease was larger during the first lockdown (–24%; P < 0.0001) than during the second lockdown (–8%; P < 0.0001). Reductions in MI admissions were more pronounced and longer among patients with non-ST-segment elevation MI, older people and women. An increase in ST-segment elevation MI admissions was observed between lockdowns (+4%; P = 0.0005). Globally, and after adjustment for age, sex and calendar year, in-hospital and 90-day post-discharge mortality rates did not differ in 2020 versus 2017–19: incidence rate ratio (IRR)(adj)(in-hospital) 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.98–1.08); IRR(adj)(90-day)(post-discharge) 1.06, 95% CI (0.98–1.13). CONCLUSIONS: In 2020, a significant decrease in MI admissions was observed, and was marked at the beginning of the year. This highlights the need to disseminate public information on the importance of maintaining care and regular medical follow-up. The effect of the COVID-19 crisis on acute and 3-month outcomes of patients hospitalized for MI appears limited. Nevertheless, monitoring of chronic MI complications and the impact on non-hospitalized patients should continue.