Incidence and Demographic Trends for Acute Coronary Syndrome in a Non-Epidemic Area During the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic in Japan ― A 2-Institutional Observational Study ―

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> We investigated the incidence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in a non-epidemic area of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in Japan. <b><i>Methods and Results:</i></b> This observational study included consecutive patients admitted for ACS at 2 tertiary hospitals in Izumo City during the pandemic in Japan (n=42, March-July 2020). Although the monthly ACS incidence was comparable, the proportions of delayed admissions and high Killip class (III/IV) were significantly higher in this population than in historical cohorts (n=197, 2015-2019). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Our findings stress the importance of encouraging patients with ACS-related symptoms to visit medical services promptly, especially in non-epidemic areas.