Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Prolongation of the Management of Myocardial Infarctions Seen Late: A Cross-Sectional Study of 25 Cases Collected in the Cardiology Department of the Aristide Le Dantec Hospital in Dakar (Senegal)

Background: Timely management determines the prognosis of patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome with persistent ST-segment elevation (STEMI). Coronavirus COVID-19 appeared in China, in Wuhan in December 2019, which has spread at a lightning speed across the planet earth, becoming a pandemic. Senegal, as well as countries around the world, has also been affected by this pandemic, which has had a strong impact on all its sectors of activity, particularly the health system. The objective of this study was to identify and evaluate the factors that increase the time required to treat myocardial infarctions, received late at H?pital Aristide le Dantec and to assess the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on these delays. Results: A total of 25 patients were included: 17 patients in pre-pandemic period and 8 patients in pandemic period. The predominance was male with a sex ratio of 2.5. The mean age was 59.20 years. Hypertension was the leading risk factor with a prevalence of 60% followed by sedentary lifestyle (48%). Typical chest pain was the most frequent clinical symptom found on admission (80%) followed by nausea and vomiting (40%). The first medical contact took place in a hospital in most patients (44%) and was made by a general practitioner (64%). The majority of patients (76%) were referred to the cardiology department. The personal car was the most frequently used means of transportation for our patients (60%). The average distance by car between the place of occurrence and the hospital was 22.6 km with extremes of 3.30 and 36 km. The average travel time from the place of occurrence to the cardiology department was 43 min 30 s with extremes of 11 and 57 min. When comparing the results according to the COVID-19 pandemic, a decrease in the number of incident cases is noted. Before the pandemic, a consultation in multiple units was noted in the majority of cases (41%) before admission. During COVID-19, the majority of patients (62.5%) had consulted only one site. The average time from pain to first medical contact was 06 h 30 min before the COVID-19 pandemic and 42 h06 min during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mean time to electrocardiogram recording was 14 h 30 min before the Covid-19 pandemic and 27 h 22 min during the Covid-19 pandemic. Conclusion: There are significant delays in the management of STEMI patients. They are attributable to both the patients and the system. The main factors of system delay found in our study were the delay in ECG recording, its interpretation, and the organization of transfer via a medical ambulance. The Covid-19 disease has globally aggravated these delays that were already present before the pandemic. Consequent measures must be taken to reduce these delays that determine the vital prognosis of STEMI patients.