A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open found that cardiac deaths in Massachusetts exceeded expectations during the years of the COVID-19 pandemic, with sharp increases reported for deaths at home. The observed excess mortality is thought to be related to lower cardiovascular procedural volumes previously reported due to hospital disruptions and restrictions.
According to data from the state, the number of cardiac deaths in 2020 was 16% higher than expected, followed by 17% higher in 2021 and 2022, and 6% higher in 2023. The study’s authors suggested that these findings are not reflected in hospital admissions for cardiac emergencies, which showed a significant decrease during the pandemic.
Researchers used Massachusetts state death certificate records from January 2014 to July 2024 and estimated age- and sex-adjusted expected monthly cardiac death rates using U.S. Census data. The study included 127,746 people with an average age of 77 years and 47.9% women.
The findings indicate that while there were fewer heart attacks in hospitals since 2020, the actual number of cardiac deaths is higher when including deaths at home. This suggests that inadequate care for patients with heart disease may be a contributing factor, possibly due to fear of contracting COVID-19 or hospital staffing difficulties.
While the study could not explain the excess cardiac deaths, it highlights the need for improved resilience in cardiac care during future pandemics. The researchers emphasized the importance of considering all types of mortality data, including those from home, to get an accurate picture of cardiac event rates.
Source: https://www.medpagetoday.com/cardiology/prevention/115828