CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) PANDEMIC AND THE “PARADOX” OF ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME HOSPITALIZATIONS

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, a disease affecting mainly the respiratory system, has become the major cause of a worldwide crisis, imposing a real challenge for the healthcare systems. The underlying pathological mechanisms of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), such as increased inflammatory and immune responses, endothelial damage, prothrombotic status, were expected to increase the incidence of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), but observational studies so far indicate an important reduction in ACS admissions and treatment, possibly because of the fear of contagion, reorganization of medical structures and reduction of physical activity. Further work is needed to identify the factors responsible for this situation.

Keywords

• covid-19 pandemic
• acute coronary syndrome
• hospitalization
• coronary intervention