European journal of clinical investigation, cilt.52, sa.10, 2022 (SCI-Expanded)
© 2022 Stichting European Society for Clinical Investigation Journal Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.Aims: To compare major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) rates between patients in the pre-COVID-19 era and COVID-19 era, and to assess the impact of the presence of COVID-19 (+) on long-term MACCE in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in Turkey. Methods: Using the TURSER study (TURKISH ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction registry) data, the current study included 1748 STEMI patients from 15 centres in Turkey. Patients were stratified into COVID-19 era (March 11st–May 15st, 2020; n = 723) or pre-COVID-19 era (March 11st–May 15st, 2019; n = 1025) cohorts. Long-term MACCE rates were compared between groups. In addition, the effect of COVID-19 positivity on long-term outcomes was evaluated. The primary outcome was the occurrence of MACCE at long-term follow-up, and the secondary outcome was hospitalization with heart failure. Results: The MACCE and hospitalization with heart failure rates between pre-COVID-19 era and COVID-19 era were 23% versus 22% (p =.841), and 12% versus 8% (p =.002), respectively. In the COVID-19 era, the rates of MACCE and hospitalization with heart failure COVID-19-positive versus COVID-19-negative patients were 40% versus 20%, (p <.001), and 43% versus 11% (p <.001), respectively. Conclusion: There was no difference between the pre-COVID-19 era and the COVID-19 era in terms of MACCE in STEMI patients in Turkey. In the COVID-19 era, STEMI patients positive for COVID-19 had a higher rate of MACCE and heart failure hospitalization at the long-term follow-up.