Should I stay or should I go? An exploration of the decision-making behaviour of acute cardiac patients during the COVID-19 pandemic

Internationally, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a substantial increase in excess mortality from non COVID-19 conditions1. Many countries have imposed social containment mandates ( ‘lockdowns’), to reduce population movement, as a result emergency attendances at hospital have considerably reduced (37%)2. Such approaches are designed to reduce a surge in capacity allowing the management of acute and critically ill COVID-19 patients. Nevertheless, this strategy appears to ha ve deterred the most seriously ill non COVID-19 patients from seeking medical help.

Source: Heart and Lung - November 15, 2021 Category: Intensive Care Authors: S. Burton, J.A. Hayes, N. Morrell-Scott, J. Sanders, H. Walthall, D.J. Wright, I. Jones Source Type: research