Emergency department visits of newly diagnosed cardiovascular disease patients in Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the emergency department (ED) visits of cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients. The customized data of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) from 2017 to 2020 were analyzed. CVD patients were defined by the code 'V192' based on the NHIS coverage benefit expansion policy. The number of ED visits of CVD patients, as well as executed procedures in 2020 (during the pandemic), were compared to the corresponding average numbers in 2018 and 2019 (prepandemic). Stratification by age group, residential area and hospital location was performed. The number of ED visits of newly diagnosed CVD patients decreased by 2.1% nationwide in 2020 (2018-2019 97,041; 2020 95,038) and decreased the most (by 14.1%) in March (2018-2019 8539; 2020 7334). However, the number of executed procedures increased by 1.1% nationwide in 2020 (2018-2019 74,696; 2020 75,520), while it decreased by 11.9% in April (2018-2019 6603; 2020 5819). The most notable decreases in the number of newly diagnosed CVD patients (31.7%) and procedures (29.2%) in March 2020 were observed in the Daegu·Gyeongbuk area. CVD patients living in the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic may experience difficulty accessing healthcare facilities and receiving proper treatment.