Disruption to cardiac services during the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a "global collateral damage" that may have lasting ramifications, according to a study published on Tuesday. In the paper published in the European Heart Journal, the researchers warn that problems with heart health will "...continue to accrue unless mitigation strategies are speedily implemented".

In the two years from December 2019, when health systems around the world were under extreme pressure and people were fearful of catching Covid, individuals experiencing an acute cardiac event such as a heart attack or heart failure either stayed away or could not get admitted to a hospital. The study, involving an international team of doctors and data scientists led by the University of Leeds, UK, describes a "substantial global decline" in hospital admissions of people suffering from cardiovascular disease.