There have been so many advances in the "high-tech" approaches to cardiovascular care and the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD), one would expect lower rates of heart attacks. Unfortunately, new triggers like microplastics, endocrine disruptors, and infections agents/vaccines are now considerations.
Have heart attacks increased, particularly at home, since the onset of the pandemic? A new study says yes.
Studies using hospital data from 15 countries report a remarkably consistent 20% to 34% reduction in heart attack hospitalizations after the start of the pandemic. Cardiac procedures also decreased.
The new study describes monthly and annual population-based cardiac mortality rates using state death certificate data in Massachusetts.
Of 127,746 included individuals, mean age was 77 years and 61,262 were female (48%).
Annual observed cardiac mortality exceeded expected from 2020 to 2023: 16% higher in 2020, 17% higher in 2021, 17% higher in 2022, and 6% higher in 2023.
Monthly cardiac mortality rates exceeded expected for deaths at home between 2020 and 2022 and for deaths in hospitals between 2020 and 2023.
Taken together with prior studies, these results suggest increased cardiac mortality after the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in the locations of deaths. The UK has also reported sizeable increases in cardiac deaths at home in 2020. The US increase has persisted well past the early pandemic; as of mid-2024, some monthly rates remain elevated.
The reason for increased deaths at home remains unclear. Hesitation to go to the hospital during the pandemic may be a factor. Many patients knew their families would not be able to visit them if they were admitted. The Covid infection and the vaccine may influence blood clotting and could be additional factors. The "lockdown" led many to gain weight, drink more alcohol, and omit exercise and gyms were closed for periods of times.
As always, at the Kahn Center for Cardiac Longevity we stress "test not guess" and strive to identify any heart disease early by advanced lab testing and heart artery imaging by CT (coronary calcium CT score and/or coronary CT angiography).
