{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: National Cross-Sectional Epidemiological Analysis of the Impact of Pandemic COVID-19 on Vascular Procedures in Public Health System: 521,069 Procedures Over 4 Years.
{Author}: Alexandrino da Silva MF;Oliveira Portela FS;Sposato Louzada AC;Teivelis MP;Amaro Junior E;Wolosker N;
{Journal}: Ann Vasc Surg
{Volume}: 98
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2024 Jan 17
{Factor}: 1.607
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.avsg.2023.07.103
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a dramatic increase in healthcare demand. Resources were redirected to care patients with COVID-19. Therefore, surgical treatments were affected, including those of vascular diseases. There are no studies evaluating the whole impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, considering all types of vascular procedures, both elective and urgent, in a large country. The aim of the present study was to analyze the impact on all types of vascular procedures performed in Brazilian public hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Cross-sectional population-based analysis of publicly available data referring to vascular procedures. Surgeries 2 years before the pandemic onset (2018-2019) and 2 years during pandemic (2020-2021) were included.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>We observed a total of 521,069 procedures. Decrease was observed in elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs both open surgery (P = 0.001) and endovascular surgery (P < 0.001), emergency open abdominal repairs (P = 0.005), elective thoracic aortic aneurysm repairs (P = 0.007), elective open peripheral aneurysm repairs (P = 0.038), carotid endarterectomies (P < 0.001) and angioplasties (P = 0.001), open revascularizations for peripheral arterial disease (P < 0.001), surgical treatment of chronic venous disease (P < 0.001) and sympathectomies for hyperhidrosis (P < 0.001). However, there was an increase of lower limb amputations (P = 0.027) and vena cava filter placements (P = 0.005). There was a reduction of almost US$17 million in financial investments.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>The reorganization of health systems led to a significant reduction in vascular procedures and decrease in financial investments. On the other hand, there was a significant increase in the number of lower limb amputations and vena cava filter placements.