Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part A (2024)

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted healthcare systems worldwide, delaying access to essential medical services. Patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), a vulnerable population requiring timely interventions, faced disruptions in healthcare services. This study aims to quantify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to CHD healthcare at a single center, focusing on three critical timeframes: March 2020 (lockdown period), September-October 2020 (resumption of elective procedures), and November 2021 (post-vaccination phase).

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Congenital and Structural Heart Disease Unit, Ain Shams University Hospitals. Data were collected from 260 patients who underwent catheterization during three specific time periods: March 2020, September-October 2020, and November 2021. The study included all patients presenting to the catheterization lab during these intervals without age or sex predilection. Data were collected via telephone-administered surveys, capturing demographics, medical history, and patient perspectives on delays and access to healthcare services. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 23, with qualitative variables compared using the Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests where appropriate.

Results: Among the 260 patients, the percentage of procedures performed increased significantly over time: 11.9% in March 2020, 30.7% in September-October 2020, and 57.3% in November 2021. The majority of patients (48.5%) were aged 2-6 years at symptom onset. Waiting times between medical decision and intervention showed that 41.9% of procedures were completed within one month, while 31.5% were delayed by more than six months. Notably, 63.7% of patients did not receive care at their initial point of contact, and 73.1% of respondents reported no reduction in fear of infection after vaccination. Approximately 46% of patients attributed delays to COVID-19-related factors, while 33% cited a combination of COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 causes. Significant differences were observed in waiting times based on the age at onset of symptoms, with older patients experiencing longer delays (p = 0.002).