الفهرس 
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)Only 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Background: The SARS-COV2 virus has been extensively researched on a microbiological basis with overview on its various symptoms, complications, modes of transmission and how to possibly treat or even prevent it. But in our research, we are pre-determined to look on how much damage the pandemic has cost our health care system indirectly causes many people to suffer and have their services delayed or postponed.
Aim and objectives: To quantify the impact that COVID-19 had on access to congenital heart disease heath care, comparing data at different time intervals, during March 2020, September, October 2020 and November 2021. In the congenital and structural heart disease unit in Ain Shams university hospitals.
Patients and Methods: This is a Cross-sectional observational study of a 260-patient presented to Ain Shams University Hospitals Structural heart disease in the congenital heart disease cath lab. Patients were asked via survey over the Telephone to assess their demographic data, their medical condition, delay in health care services and the respondent own perception to the delay in effect. The answers were compared according to the different time frames and their relation to COVID-19 pandemic, their demographic data.
Results: We have revealed a difference in number of cases between March 2020 (peak pandemic), Sep-Oct 2020 and 1 year after in Nov 2021; number of respondents 31,80 and 149 respectively. That shows the heightened discrepancies between the three groups in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic chronologically. There was a statistically significant relation between (time interval from decision take to actual intervention done) and (date of the actual procedure); with most patient getting delayed (the patients had their procedure done within more than 6 months) performed their procedure during September- October interval at 48%. This is the group that is believed to have been under the most impact by the COVID-19 restrictions and implications. Patients who underwent their procedure in the group of March 2020; patients experienced less delay, with 42% of the patients had their procedure done in less than one month. While the group Sep-Oct 2020; Patients experienced the most delay with 50% of the patients had their procedure done in more than 6 months. In group of Nov 2021; 43% of the population had less than one month delay, while 26% experienced delay for more than six months. Over the course of the population studied, almost 21% of respondents believed that there had been a delay in their case due to non -COVID-19 related reasons (hard paperwork and/or long waiting lines).46% of respondents thought that their cases had been delayed because of COVID-19 directly (fear of infection and/or Turing of hospitals into isolation centers/cancelling elective procedures). In the group who had their procedure done in March 2020, 60% of respondents believed that their cases were delayed because of non-Covid related reasons, while only 20% believed that the delay in their cases was primarily related to COVID. In the group who had their procedure done in Sep-Oct 2020; 58.9% of respondents thought that their cases were delayed mainly because of COVID-19 related reasons. In the group who had their procedure done in Nov 2021; 39% of respondents believed that their delay was because of COVID-19 related reasons, and 33% because of non-COVID-19 related reasons, the rest was combination of both.
Conclusion: We concluded that COVID-19 pandemic has affected the provided the health care services provided. Most of the delayed population, had their procedures delayed because of COVID-19 related reasons. Risk stratification of ACHD according to complexity of illness or severity of symptoms is a must to allow intervention and follow up during drastic times according to a pre-set list of patients’ priorities