Impact of the COVID‐19 lockdown in urgent pacemaker implantations: A cross‐sectional study

AIMS: The COVID‐19 pandemic resulted in a decrease in patients' follow‐up and interventions with cardiovascular disease. In Portugal, the consequences on emergent pacemaker implantation rates are largely unknown. We sought to analyze the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on emergent pacemaker implantation rate and patient profile. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical profile of the 180 patients who had pacemakers implanted in our hospital in an emergent setting from March 18, 2020, to May 17, 2020 (“lockdown”) and May 19 to July 17, 2020 (“postlockdown”). This data was then directly compared to the homologous periods from the year before. RESULTS: Urgent pacemaker implantation rates during "lockdown" was lower than its homologous period (−23.7%), and cases in "postlockdown" were significantly increased (+106.9% vs. "lockdown"; +13.2% vs. May–July 2019). When comparing “lockdown” and “postlockdown,” there was a tendency for a higher number of temporary pacemaker use (p = .076). Patients during “lockdown” were 7.57 times more likely to present with hypotension/shock (odds ratio 7.57; p = .013). We also noted a higher tendency for hypotension on presentation during “lockdown” (p = .054) in comparison to 2019. In comparison to its homologous 2019 period, “postlockdown” saw more patients presenting with bradycardia (p = .026). No patients were admitted to the emergency department during "lockdown" for anomalies detected on ambulatory tests. CONCLUSION: Our data show that the COVID‐19 pandemic had a real impact on urgent pacemaker implantation. Patients with bradyarrhythmias are at particular risk for severe complications and should seek medical care regardless of the pandemic.