Hassan Shahbazi - Department of Nursing Education, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
Neda Mahdavifar - MSc Student of Emergency Nursing, Student Research Committee, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
Ali Asghar Jesmi - Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran

Background: The outbreak of coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) in early ۲۰۲۰ has affected reperfusion time in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) across the globe.Aim: The present study aimed to assess the effect of the COVID-۱۹ pandemic on the treatment management of STEMI.Method: This quantitative cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study investigated medical records of all patients (n=۲۷۹) with STEMI who were consecutively admitted to Heshmatieh Hospital in Sabzevar city and underwent Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PPCI) in the last ۹ months of ۲۰۱۹ (from April to December) as "Pre-pandemic group" (n=۱۶۱) and the same period in ۲۰۲۰ as "post-pandemic group" (n=۱۱۸). The data collection tools were a demographic information form and a checklist for recording treatment information.Results: The average times from the symptom onset to first medical contact (FMC) and from FMC to the commencement of PPCI were significantly increased in the post-pandemic group, compared to those in the pre-pandemic group (۸۷۰.۵۰±۱۳۹۷.۴۸ versus ۳۴۸.۸۰±۳۹۹.۲۰ min and ۷۳.۲۳±۹۱.۸۷ versus ۵۲.۶۸±۲۷.۴۶ min, respectively). The mean length of stay was reduced after the intervention in the post-pandemic group. Despite the reduction in the number of STEMI patients’ referrals in the post-COVID-۱۹ pandemic period, the comparison of the referral of patients by month showed no significant difference between the two study groups before and after the COVID-۱۹ pandemic.Implications for Practice: The COVID-۱۹ pandemic caused treatment delay and reduced hospital stay among STEMI patients. The results of this study can be used to inform the community and better manage time-dependent diseases, such as STEMI, in the future.

COVID-۱۹, Primary percutaneous coronary intervention, ST-elevation myocardial infarction, Time-to-Treatments