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Review
. 2021 May;36(5):1717-1722.
doi: 10.1111/jocs.15235. Epub 2021 Jan 24.

COVID-19: An Argentinian perspective

Federico Benetti  1 , Sergio H Del Prete  2 , Mario Glanc  2 , Daniel Navia  3
Affiliations
Review

COVID-19: An Argentinian perspective

Federico Benetti et al. J Card Surg. 2021 May.

Abstract

At the time of this writing (July 6, 2020), the mortality rate reported for COVID-19 in Argentina was <2%. Also, the country's critical care beds are ≤63% occupied. This achievement results from the excellent coordination and action by the Argentine Ministry of Health together with the 23 provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires of the nation for now.

Materials and methods: Regarding cardiovascular care for patients over 65 years of age, a more accurate analysis could be performed when two comparative half-yearly periods corresponding to the years 2019 and 2020 (pandemic time) were compared. The data collected regarding this age range revealed issues that had not previously been evaluated in our country. That undoubtedly proposes a different solution for the future based on a strict scientific analysis.

Results: The ratio of patients who received stents to those that underwent coronary surgery was 6 to 1, while the ratio of patients who had off-pump surgery to those that underwent minimally invasive surgery was 69 to 1.

Conclusion: An Argentinian perspective regarding cardiovascular care is good because the country has an excellent level of qualified medical training in its cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology services, as well as healthcare infrastructure distributed throughout the country, which will undoubtedly be able to respond to the new challenges posed by the post-pandemic period.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Cardiovascular practices of high complexity. Comparison of the first semester 2019–2020 (COVID‐19 pandemic)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Cardiac surgery in the National Institute of Social Services for Retirees and Pensioners population 2019 first semester. AMR, antibody‐mediated rejection; AVR, aortic valve replacement; CABG, coronary artery bypass grafting; CIA, ASD atrial septal defect; ECC, extracorporeal circulation; RV, redo valve o reoperation valve; VR, valve replacement
Figure 3
Figure 3
Cardiac surgery in the National Institute of Social Services for Retirees and Pensioners population 2020 first semester. AMR, antibody‐mediated rejection; AVR, aortic valve replacement; CABG, coronary artery bypass grafting; ECC, extracorporeal circulation; IAC, interarterial course
Figure 4
Figure 4
Interventional cardiology in the National Institute of Social Services for Retirees and Pensioners population 2019 first semester. CABG, coronary artery bypass grafting; PTCA, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
Figure 5
Figure 5
Interventional cardiology in the National Institute of Social Services for Retirees and Pensioners population 2020 first semester. CABG, coronary artery bypass grafting; PTCA, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Glanc M, (2018). Overview of Latin American Health Systems. Buenos Aires: ISALUD.
    1. National Institute of Statistics and Censuses . https://www.indec.gob.ar/. Obtained from Indec; 2020.
    1. Official Gazette of the Argentine Republic . https://www.boletinoficial.gob.ar/. Obtained from the Official Gazette of the Argentine Republic; 2020.
    1. Ministry of Health . https://www.argentina.gob.ar/coronavirus/informe-diario. Obtained from COVID19 Ministry of Health Daily Report; 2020.
    1. CEPAL . The social challenge in the days of COVID‐19. Santiago: ECLAC; 2020.