COVID-19 and Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI): Delayed Presentations and Outcomes for STEMI care

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is a non-surgical procedure that requires catheterization to improve blood flow to the heart and is the recommended therapy for Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI). The Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has altered the course of reperfusion therapy for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). It is imperative to emphasize the awareness of timely PCI and the effects it has on improving patient outcomes. Based on the consensus statement by the American College of Cardiology (ACC), American College for Emergency Physicians (ACEP), and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), it is critical to inform the public to call the emergency medical system for AMI symptoms and obtain the appropriate level of care. Ultimately, COVID-19 has posed unprecedented challenges to public health. The immediate threat is linked to morbidity and mortality related to the infection, and the masked threat is the waning attention and resources utilized for the care of other diseases. First medical contact is the main time target, and reducing treatment delays to improve patient outcomes in AMI patients with STEMI should be the next immediate objective in healthcare systems worldwide.