The Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on Syncope Units Activities in Italy: A Report from the Italian Multidisciplinary Working Group on Syncope (GIMSI)

Vincenzo Russo, Giulio Boggian, Maria Giulia Bolognesi, Domenico Maria Carretta, Simone Cencetti, Domenica De Laura, Enzo Hrovatin, Paolo Pastori, Caterina Tomaselli, Erika Parente, Martina Rafanelli, Andrea Ungar and on behalf of COVID-19 GIMSI Study Group
Additional contact information
Vincenzo Russo: Cardiology and Syncope Unit, Department of Medical Translational Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”—Monaldi Hospital, 80131 Naples, Italy
Giulio Boggian: Internal Medicine and Syncope Unit, Bentivoglio Hospital, Health Authority Bologna, 40053 Bologna, Italy
Maria Giulia Bolognesi: Cardiology and Syncope Unit, Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital, 29121 Piacenza, Italy
Domenico Maria Carretta: Cardiology and Syncope Unit, Giovanni XXIII Hospital, 70126 Bari, Italy
Simone Cencetti: Internal Medicine and Syncope Unit, Piero Palagi Hospital, Health Authority Toscana Centro, 50122 Firenze, Italy
Domenica De Laura: Cardiology and Syncope Unit, San Paolo Hospital, 70123 Bari, Italy
Enzo Hrovatin: Cardiology and Syncope Unit, Monfalcone Hospital, Health Authority Giuliano Isontina (GO), 34074 Monfalcone, Italy
Paolo Pastori: Cardiology and Syncope Unit, Fidenza Hospital, Health Authority Parma, 43036 Fidenza, Italy
Caterina Tomaselli: Cardiology and Syncope Unit, Annunziata Hospital, 87100 Cosenza, Italy
Erika Parente: Cardiology and Syncope Unit, Department of Medical Translational Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”—Monaldi Hospital, 80131 Naples, Italy
Martina Rafanelli: Geriatrics and Intensive Care Unit, Hypertension Centre—Syncope Unit University of Florence and Careggi Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
Andrea Ungar: Geriatrics and Intensive Care Unit, Hypertension Centre—Syncope Unit University of Florence and Careggi Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
on behalf of COVID-19 GIMSI Study Group: Participants are listed in Acknowledgments.

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 17, 1-7

Abstract: The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on Syncope Units (SUs) Activities in Italy. Methods: Data about types of SU activities and admissions were obtained from 10 SUs throughout Italy, certified by the Italian Multidisciplinary Working Group on Syncope (GIMSI), from 10 March 2020 to 31 December 2020 and compared with the same time frame in 2019. Results: A remarkable reduction in overall non-invasive diagnostic tests (?67%; p < 0.001) and cardiac invasive procedure. Elective cardiac pacing procedures disclosed a significant decrease (?62.7%; p < 0.001); conversely, the decrease of urgent procedures was not significant (?50%; p = 0.08). There was a significantly increased rate of patients who underwent both telemedicine follow-up visits (+225%, p < 0.001) and cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) remote monitoring follow-up visits (+100%; p < 0.001). Conclusion: The COVID-19 outbreak was associated with a remarkable decrease in all clinical activities of Syncope Units in Italy, including both non-invasive tests and cardiac invasive procedures; conversely, a significant increase in telehealth activities was shown.

Keywords: syncope; syncope unit; COVID-19; outbreak; lockdown; clinical activities; cardiac invasive procedure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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