Patients who suffered a heart attack during the first lockdown in Spain and the UK are expected to live between 1.5 and 2 years less than those who suffered before the health crisis.
- A study confirms the loss of chance linked to confinement during the health crisis for heart attack victims.
- These patients would have lost between 1.5 and 2 years of life.
- These results are due to the absence or delays in the management of heart attack victims.
The loss of chance for victims of heart attacks during the first confinements of the health crisis is confirmed.
Heart attacks require emergency treatment to restore blood flow to blocked arteries. Any delay can lead to irreversible damage to the heart muscle, which can have dramatic long-term consequences on the health of patients.
According a study published in a journal of the European Society of Cardiologypatients who suffered a heart attack during the first confinement in Spain and the United Kingdom are expected to live between 1.5 and 2 years less than those who suffered before the health crisis.
This study, which was conducted in several European countries, highlights the dramatic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health of patients with cardiovascular diseases. Indeed, during the first wave of the pandemic, only 40% of heart attack patients were able to get to the hospital, causing a delay in their care.
Alarming statistics on life expectancy
The researchers compared the expected life expectancy of patients who had a heart attack during the first lockdown with those who had a heart attack at the same time the year before. The UK analysis compared the period March 23 to April 22, 2020 with the equivalent period in 2019. The Spanish analysis compared March 2019 to March 2020.
The results show that patients in the UK would lose an average of 1.55 years of life compared to patients with a heart attack before the pandemic. The equivalent figures for Spain were 2.03 years of life lost and around one year and seven months of perfectly healthy life lost.
Lack of care also has a high economic cost
The results of the study are also alarming from an economic point of view. Patients with myocardial infarction have been treated late, which has led to long-term health consequences and high economic costs for society. The study estimated that reduced access to coronary care resulted in estimated additional lifetime costs of £36.6 million (€41.3 million) for the UK and £88.6 million. million euros for Spain. These figures show that the COVID-19 pandemic not only has an impact on the health of patients with cardiovascular diseases, but also on the economy of the affected countries.
The importance of continuing treatment for cardiovascular disease
The results of this study underscore the importance of continuing medical treatments for cardiovascular disease even during periods of confinement. “It is crucial that patients with heart attack symptoms are treated immediately to minimize damage to the heart muscle and avoid dramatic long-term health consequences.“, they claim.
The researchers urge governments and health institutions to mobilize to ensure access to necessary care for all patients in all situations, including during pandemic times. Physicians and healthcare professionals must also educate patients with cardiovascular disease on the importance of continuing their medical treatment even during a pandemic and not neglecting the symptoms of heart attack.
