Comparing Clinical Parameters and Outcomes of ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Patients With and Without COVID-۱۹ Infection

Objectives: During the novel coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) pandemic, the incidence of cardiovascular diseases increased. In this context, diagnosing ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in COVID-۱۹ cases has become complex and challenging.  Objectives: This study explored the characteristics and compared clinical outcomes between COVID-۱۹ and non-COVID-۱۹ patients with STEMI. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted on adult patients admitted with the diagnosis of STEMI in the first ۶ months of the pandemic. Patients were evaluated for COVID-۱۹ diagnosis and divided into two groups: COVID-۱۹-positive and COVID-۱۹-negative. Then, they were monitored during hospitalization and ۶ months after discharge.  Results: Of ۱۳۱ patients admitted with STEMI, ۲۲.۱۳% had COVID-۱۹ infection. Most patients were men, and the COVID-۱۹-positive patients were older than non-infected patients (۶۳.۹۷±۱۲.۵۴ vs ۵۸.۱۹±۱۰.۹۷ years; P=۰.۰۳۹). The COVID-۱۹-infected patients had a higher prevalence of diabetes (P=۰.۰۰۳) and heart failure (P=۰.۰۰۸). They had higher levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (P=۰.۰۰۳) and neutrophil count (P=۰.۰۱۸), whereas lymphocyte count declined considerably in these patients (P=۰.۰۱۲). In addition, hospital length of stay was higher in the infected patients (۶.۶۴±۴.۳۰ vs ۴.۹۳±۳.۵۹ days; P=۰.۰۲۳). During the study period, the overall mortality rate in our setting was ۸.۸۲% and ۱۷.۲۴% in COVID-۱۹-negative and -positive patients, respectively. However, this difference was not statistically significant (P=۰.۱۹۵).  Discussion: Although the current study employed a small sample, the findings suggest notable differences between the STEMI patients with and without COVID-۱۹ infection regarding some parameters, especially underlying comorbidities. However, the difference in mortality was not significant.