Ruth Benson (Birmingham, UK) and Sandip Nandhra (Newcastle, UK) speak to Vascular News about their presentation on the COVID-19 Vascular Service (COVER) study, which aims to evaluate the evolving impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vascular practice, using a three-tier system.
The study found there was a “massive reduction” globally in the services that were provided for a number of conditions, such as carotid surgery, among others. It also found that, despite a very low rate of expected, suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases among vascular patients that had a procedure during the first wave (4%), in-hospital mortality for patients who did have a positive or suspected test “was almost five-fold”.
Benson concludes by saying that their findings suggest there will be “increasing competition for services” and argues it will be up to physicians to be advocates for the patients.
