Chronological Development of Cardiovascular Disease in Times of COVID-19: A Retrospective Analysis of Hospitalized Diseases of the Circulatory System and COVID-19 Patients of a German University Hospital

Abstract

This study aims at examining the chronological development of hospitalized cardiovascular and COVID-19 patients and comparing the effects on related sub-disciplines and main diagnoses for pre-pandemic (2017–2019) and pandemic (2020–2021) years in the setting of a German university maximum care provider. Data were retrospectively retrieved from the hospital performance controlling system for patient collectives with main diagnosis of diseases of the circulatory system (nCirculatory) and COVID-19 secondary diagnosis (nCOVID-19). The cardiovascular patient collective (nCirculatory = 25,157) depicts a steady state in terms of relative yearly development of patient numbers (+0.4%, 2019–2020, +0.1%, 2020–2021). Chronological assessment points towards monthly decline during lockdowns and phases of high regional incidence of COVID-19 (i.e., 2019–2020: March −10.2%, April −12.4%, December −14.8%). Main diagnoses of congestive heart failure (+16.1% 2019/2020; +19.2% 2019/2021) and acute myocardial infarction show an increase in case numbers over the course of the whole pandemic (+15.4% 2019/2020; +9.4% 2019/2021). The results confirm negative effects on the cardiovascular care situation during the entire pandemic in the setting of a university maximum care provider. A general increase in cardiac disorders and a worrisome turn in case development of acute myocardial infarction emphasize the feared cardiovascular burden of COVID-19.